Washington DC: Scientists have found specialized neurons in the brains of mice that order the animals to stop eating. Though many feeding circuits in the brain are known to play a role in monitoring food intake, scientists also believe that the neurons in those circuits do not make the final decision to cease eating a meal.
The neurons identified by the Columbia scientists, a new element of these circuits, are located in the brainstem, the oldest part of the vertebrate brain. Their discovery could lead to new treatments for obesity.
