How does the brain control eating behavior?

Our laboratory uses rat and mouse models to investigate the diverse factors that control food intake and body weight. We are particularly interested in how the gut communicates with the brain about nutrients coming into the gastrointestinal tract during meals, and how the brain integrates this information with the taste of food, motivation, cues in the environment and learned habits that can promote eating even in the absence of metabolic need. This work helps reveal the biological underpinnings of our everyday eating experiences, and also sheds light on pathological states including eating disorders and obesity. Explore our site to learn more about our ongoing projects, check out some recent papers, meet our lab members, view some lab photos, and find out what we are looking for in prospective trainees.

This work is funded by the National Institutes of Health, specifically the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).