Speaker
Description
Animals adapt their behavior to meet changing internal needs, such as the requirement for specific nutrients to maintain homeostasis. While it is known that internal states like nutrient deprivation or reproductive status drive appetite for foods that are rich in particular nutrients, the neural mechanisms by which these needs shape behavior remain incompletely understood.
Building on our previous work that established a functional atlas of the subesophageal zone (SEZ) and identified SEZ regions involved in protein appetite, we now focus on how carbohydrate deprivation alters sensory processing. Using volumetric 2 photon imaging, behavior, and genetic manipulation, we show that carbohydrate deprivation engages distinct SEZ regions, separate from those modulated by protein hunger. Furthermore, we identify candidate driver lines and neurons that innervate these carbohydrate sensitive regions and contribute to carbohydrate specific appetite. These findings indicate that nutrient specific deficits activate separable neural pathways to flexibly adjust sensorimotor processing based on internal need, highlighting how the brain dynamically adapts sensory processing to guide nutrient specific food choice and maintain physiological balance.
