Neural activity in the noradrenergic locus coeruleus correlates with periods of wakefulness
and arousal. However, it is unclear whether tonic or phasic activity in these neurons is …

Appetite suppression occurs after a meal and in conditions when it is unfavourable to eat,
such as during illness or exposure to toxins. A brain region proposed to play a role in appetite …

What are they? FOXO proteins are a subgroup of the Forkhead family of transcription factors.
This family is characterized by a conserved DNA-binding domain (the ‘Forkhead box’, or …

Current models of sleep/wake regulation posit that Hypocretin (Hcrt)-expressing neurons in
the lateral hypothalamus promote and stabilize wakefulness by projecting to subcortical …

The hypocretins (Hcrts) (also called orexins) are two neuropeptides expressed in the lateral
hypothalamus that play a crucial role in the stability of wakefulness. Previously, our …

The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis functions to coordinate behavioural and
physiological responses to stress in a manner that depends on the behavioural state of the …

Conditioned taste aversion (CTA) is a phenomenon in which an individual forms an association
between a novel tastant and toxin-induced gastrointestinal malaise. Previous studies …

The recent development of light-activated optogenetic probes allows for the identification
and manipulation of specific neural populations and their connections in awake animals with …

To maintain energy homeostasis, orexigenic (appetite-inducing) and anorexigenic (appetite
suppressing) brain systems functionally interact to regulate food intake. Within the …

Alterations in arousal states are associated with multiple neuropsychiatric disorders,
including generalized anxiety disorders, addiction, schizophrenia, and depression. Therefore, …