The Neuro Network Ep.49 Brain vs. Donut: How Orexin Neurons Push Us to Exercise
Sep 16, 2024
Explore how orexin neurons act as the brain's motivators, pushing us to choose exercise over tasty treats. Delve into exciting research about why some resist temptation better than others. Learn about a maze experiment revealing how mice balance food and running. Discover how blocking orexin shifts choices from exercise to indulgence. Finally, see how advanced technologies can manipulate these neurons to influence our decisions on physical activity. It's a fascinating look at the brain's role in motivation and self-control!
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Orexin Links Energy Tradeoffs To Choice
- Orexin neurons in the hypothalamus influence the choice between exercise and eating highly palatable food.
- This system balances short-term energy gain from food against long-term benefits of exercise for survival and function.
Orexin Is A Multitasking Motivational Signal
- Orexin is a multifunctional neurotransmitter that regulates sleep, arousal, appetite, and reward-related motivation.
- Dysfunction in orexin signaling (e.g., narcolepsy) shows how central it is to wakefulness and motivated behavior.
Eight-Arm Choice Maze Reveals Preferences
- The authors used an eight-arm arena with choices: wheel, chow, milkshake, water, novel object, light, dark, and another mouse.
- Without a milkshake the mouse mainly used the wheel and chow, and with a milkshake it switched chow for the milkshake but still used the wheel.
