New Research Uncovers Brain Cells Linked to Overeating and Memory Issues

Breakthrough in Understanding Eating Behaviors

New Delhi, June 12: A group of researchers from the United States has identified a specific set of brain cells that may shed light on why individuals with memory impairments tend to overeat.

The study indicates that those who frequently forget their recent meals may experience heightened hunger, potentially leading to disordered eating patterns.

Scientists from the University of Southern California discovered that these brain cells are responsible for encoding memories related to meals, capturing not only the type of food consumed but also the timing of the meal.

During the act of eating, neurons in the ventral hippocampus become active, forming what the researchers refer to as 'meal engrams'—specialized memory traces that retain information about food consumption experiences.

While the role of engrams in memory storage has been a subject of research for some time, this recent study, published in the journal Nature Communications, highlights engrams specifically associated with meal experiences.

According to Scott Kanoski, a Professor of Biological Sciences at USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, 'Meal engrams operate like advanced biological databases, storing various types of information, including the location and timing of meals.'

Kanoski emphasized that these findings could pave the way for innovative clinical strategies aimed at addressing obesity and managing weight.

Current approaches to weight management typically emphasize reducing food intake or boosting physical activity; however, this new research suggests that improving the formation of meal memories could be equally crucial.

Utilizing cutting-edge neuroscience methods, the research team monitored the brain activity of laboratory rats during feeding, offering an unprecedented real-time perspective on how meal memories are established.

The neurons responsible for meal memories are distinct from those involved in other memory types.

When the researchers selectively eliminated these neurons, the rats exhibited difficulties in recalling food locations while maintaining normal spatial memory for unrelated tasks, indicating a specialized system for processing meal-related information.

The study also found that meal memory neurons interact with the lateral hypothalamus, a brain area recognized for its role in regulating hunger and eating behaviors. When the connection between the hippocampus and hypothalamus was disrupted, the rats overindulged and struggled to remember where they had eaten.