HEALTH
‘Ancient’ part of the brain might tell you when to stop eating
WORDSEMILY COOKE
Neurons found in one of the oldest regions of the brain may control when we stop eating a meal
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Scientists have identified neurons in an evolutionarily ancient part of the brain that control when you stop eating a meal, at least in rodents. The researchers discovered that cholecystokinin (CCK) neurons, which are found in the brain stem – one of the oldest parts of the brain – integrate various signals produced as we eat, causing us to feel full and not want to take another bite. The scientists described their findings in a new study published in the journalCell. The feeding signals these neurons respond to relay information like how much food is detected by receptors in the mouth, how full the stomach is and how high the levels of different ‘hungersignalling hormones’ in the blood are. These hormones rise and fall in response to food consumption and metabolism. The new research is still in its early stages, having only been conducted in mice so far. However, the human brain stem is fairly similar to that of mice, so it’s likely that the same control mechanism occurs in our brains too.