Summary: A new research identifies neurons in the hippocampus that keep food-specific memories, instantly influencing eating and body fat. These neurons, which record memories for sugar and fat, work as “memory traces” that generate eating habits and metabolism. Silencing these cells in animals disrupted sugar-related reminiscences, reduced eating, and prevented weight gain, even on high-sugar nutrition.
The findings reveal how storage techniques developed for survival and how they now contribute to overeating in contemporary, food-rich environments. The research uncovers distinct brain regions that control sweets and fatty memories, allowing for targeted obesity treatments. This study demonstrates how crucial memory is in influencing eating habits and physiological wellbeing.
Important Facts:
- Memory and Overeating: Food-specific reminiscences stored in cortical neurons influence eating habits and system weight.
- Neurological Specialization: Separate neurons record sugar and fat reminiscences, with unique effects on intake.
- Medical Prospective: Eliminating overeating and improving metabolic health could be achieved by targeting these circuits.
Origin: Monell Chemical Senses Center
Does memory affect how much and what we eat? A groundbreaking , Monell Chemical Senses Center , study, which links food memory to overeating, answered that question with a resounding” Yes”.
Led by Monell Associate Member , Guillaume de Lartigue, PhD, the study group identified, for the first time, the body’s food-specific memory structure and its primary role in overeating and diet-induced fat.  ,
They were published in Nature Stamina, and they specifically describe a population of mouse brain neurons that control the memory of sugar and fat, deeply affecting food consumption and body weight.
” In today’s world, we are continually bombarded with ads and environmental triggers designed to remind us of joyful meals experience”, said Dr. de Lartigue.
” What’s shocking is that we’ve pinpointed a certain people of cells in the hippocampus , that not only aspects these food-related thoughts but also drives our eating habits. This relation may have important effects on physiological health and body weight.
These cells record memories of the geographical location of nutrient-rich foods, acting as a “memory trace”, especially for sugar and fats.
Silencing these neurons impairs an animal’s ability to recall sugar-related memories, reduces sugar consumption, and prevents weight gain, even when animals are exposed to diets that contribute to excessive weight gain.
Reactivating these neurons, on the other hand, increases food consumption and demonstrates how food memories influence dietary behavior.
These findings introduce two new concepts: first, evidence that specific neurons in the brain store food-related memories, and second, that these memories directly impact food intake.
” While it’s no surprise that we remember pleasurable food experiences, it was long assumed that these memories had little to no impact on eating behavior”, said Dr. de Lartigue.
What’s most surprising is that the inhibition of these neurons prevents weight gain, even in response to diets high in sugar and fat
Memory’s Underappreciated Role
This study establishes a direct connection between memory and metabolism, which is frequently overlooked as a major factor in food intake. The implications for understanding metabolic health are what sets this discovery apart from other studies on memory.
Even when animals are exposed to high-sugar diets, removing sugar-responsive neurons from the animals ‘ hippocampus causes weight gain and memory loss.
This demonstrates a direct correlation between some of the memory-related brain circuits and metabolic health, which has been largely overlooked in the field of obesity research.
According to first author Mingxin Yang, a University of Pennsylvania doctoral student in the de Lartigue lab, “memory systems in the hippocampus evolved to help animals locate and recall food sources crucial for survival.”
” In modern environments, where food is abundant and cues are everywhere, these memory circuits may drive overeating, contributing to obesity”.
Specific, Yet Independent Circuits
Another key discovery is that food-related memories are highly specific. Sugar-responsive neurons encode and influence only sugar-related memories and intake, while fat-responsive neurons impact only fat intake. These neurons do not affect other types of memory, such as spatial memory for non-food-related tasks.
” The specificity of these circuits is fascinating”, said de Lartigue.
It “underlines how carefully the brain is tuned to distinguish between different nutrient sources in their environment” ( p. 61 ).
We have two different types of neurons that control how much food contains fat and how much sugar is stored in the brain. According to the authors, these distinct systems presumably evolved as a result of the authors ‘ hypothesis that foods are hardly ever both fat and sugar.  ,
Implications for Treating Obesity
The study’s findings provide new avenues for addressing obesity and overeating. By targeting hippocampal memory circuits, it may be possible to disrupt the memory triggers that drive consumption of unhealthy, calorie-dense foods.
” These neurons are critical for linking sensory cues to food intake”, said Dr. de Lartigue. They are potent targets for treating obesity in today’s food-rich world because of their ability to influence both memory and metabolism.
Funding: The National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association supported this collaborative study, which was carried out by University of Pennsylvania and University of Southern California coworkers.
About this research on obesity and memory
Author: Karen Kreeger
Source: Monell Chemical Senses Center
Contact: Karen Kreeger – Monell Chemical Senses Center
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access.
Guillaume de Lartigue et al.'” Different orexigenic hippocampal ensembles influence dietary choices by enhancing contextual memory and motivation.. Nature Metabolism
Abstract
Different orexigenic hippocampal ensembles influence dietary choices by enhancing contextual memory and motivation.
The hippocampus ( HPC ) has emerged as a critical player in the control of food intake, beyond its well-known role in memory.
Recent research suggests a role in appetitive processes, despite previous studies ‘ primarily linking the HPC to food intake inhibition.
We have found spatially distinct neuronal populations in the dorsal HPC ( dHPC ) that respond to either fats or sugars, potent natural reinforcers that aid in the development of obesity.
Using activity-dependent genetic capture of nutrient-responsive dHPC neurons, we demonstrate a causal role of both populations in promoting nutrient-specific intake through different mechanisms.
While fat-responsive neurons selectively enhanced the preference and motivation for fat consumption, sugar-responsive neurons encode spatial memory for sugar location.
Importantly, stimulation of either nutrient-responsive dHPC neurons increased food intake, while ablation differentially impacted obesogenic diet consumption and prevented diet-induced weight gain.
Collectively, these findings uncover previously unknown orexigenic circuits underlying macronutrient-specific consumption and provide a foundation for developing potential obesity treatments.
