Zachary Knight is investigating the neural mechanisms that govern hunger, thirst, and body temperature. Knight wants to understand how the brain senses the body’s physical needs and transforms that information into behavior. Knight and his team have discovered that homeostatic neurons, such as those for hunger and thirst, are not just passive sensors of internal state, but also gather sensory information from the outside world. Now, the team wants to know how these neurons integrate this information to predict impending physiological changes and preemptively adjust goal-directed behaviors.
Scientists have identified mouse neurons that make food and drink palatable, feeding a cycle of consumption. Scientists have discovered a new way the gut talks to the brain — by sending messages about the salt content of the stomach and intestines. This information is one signal the body uses to control thirst.