Swallowing May Trigger a Feel-Good Response in the Brain that Promotes Eating

In a study on fruit fly larvae, researchers uncovered how swallowing triggers the release of serotonin in the brain, shedding light on the connection between eating and pleasure in animals.

If similar mechanisms exist in humans, this could offer valuable insights into our own drive to eat and drink. By mapping the fruit fly’s enteric nervous system, scientists gained new understanding of swallowing, which they describe as “arguably the most crucial decision an animal must make.”

“Uncovering the Neural Pathways Linking Digestion and Brain Communication During Eating and swallowing”

Neuroscientist Michael Pankratz from the University of Bonn explains that their goal was to understand how the digestive system communicates with the brain during eating. To achieve this, they needed to identify the specific neurons involved and how they are activated.

The researchers took their study to the next level by slicing a larva into thousands of thin sections, photographing each under powerful microscopes, and mapping the neurons and their connections.

Using computer software, researchers created a 3D model from the photographs, revealing a stretch receptor in the esophagus that connects to six neurons in the larva’s brain. These neurons monitor swallowing and assess food quality. If high-quality food is detected, the brain releases serotonin as a reward, prompting the larva to continue eating. “The neurons evaluate whether it’s food and its quality,” says neuroscientist Andreas Schoofs from the University of Bonn.

“Fruit Flies as a Model for Understanding Fundamental Survival Behaviors”

Fruit flies have fewer than 200,000 neurons, but their simpler system models basic survival behaviors. The next step is to see if the same neural map and serotonin release found in fruit flies also exist in humans. More research is needed to confirm if this response applies to us.

“We still have much to learn about how this control circuit works in humans,” says Pankratz. “It will take years of research to fully understand.”

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