Talk Description:

Food intake decisions are controlled by a distributed neural system. In addition to the critical role of the hypothalamus, numerous other brain regions influence intake. We are specifically interested in brain circuits, such as the prefrontal cortex (PFC), know to influence motivation and self-regulation. Here we show that optogenetic stimulation of dopamine receptor type 1 neurons in the PFC is sufficient to drive feeding. These neurons project from the PFC to the basolateral amygdala (BLA). Data presented will support a role for PFC D1 expressing neurons in driving intake via this PFC-BLA circuit.