Researchers at Rockefeller University discover a three-neuron circuit connecting hunger hormones to chewing in the hypothalamus.

Researchers at Rockefeller University have identified a three-neuron circuit in the hypothalamus that connects hunger hormones to jaw movements for chewing. This finding suggests that the impulse to eat may function more like a reflex. Inhibiting these neurons causes increased food intake and chewing without food, while stimulation reduces eating. This research could lead to new insights into obesity and potential treatments for eating disorders.