Amygdala's role in food aversion: Insights from mice experiments
Scientists from Princeton have discovered that the amygdala in the brain is responsible for the long-term avoidance of foods after poisoning. Studies on mice show how emotions affect our taste preferences.
Scientists from the Princeton Neuroscience Institute conducted studies that shed new light on the mechanisms responsible for avoiding food after poisoning. As the Polish Press Agency indicates, the amygdala, a part of the brain responsible for processing emotions, plays a key role in forming lasting memories related to unpleasant taste experiences.
Studies conducted on mice showed that the central nucleus of the amygdala is activated by new flavors at every stage of learning. Dr. Christopher Zimmerman, the lead author of the study published in "Nature," explained that this part of the brain is active when a mouse eats something poisonous, feels sick, and also when recalling negative memories.
In the experiment, the mice were given a grape-flavored drink, which they had not encountered before. After consuming it, the animals were given an injection that induced symptoms similar to food poisoning. Two days later, even though they were healthy, they avoided the grape drink, confirming the scientists' hypothesis.
Brain imaging of the mice showed that memories related to the food that caused discomfort were formed in the central nucleus of the amygdala. The same area was activated when the animal encountered the suspicious product again. Scientists also identified cells in the posterior part of the brain that connect with the amygdala and are responsible for transmitting illness signals.
The importance of the research
Scientists also noted that neurons previously activated by the mentioned grape drink were reactivated when the mouse felt sick—as if it was recalling what it had eaten before.
According to the researchers, understanding the mechanisms of food poisoning in mice may help develop clinical treatment methods for humans. This knowledge may be applicable not only in cases of poisoning but also in the context of traumatic experiences that lead to PTSD.
