Brain Cells That Signal Fullness Also Crave Dessert

ancestor: The term refers to previous generations, which can be a family ancestor like a parent, grandparent, or great-grandparents. It can also denote a species, genus, family, or other taxonomic group from which later organisms evolved. For instance, ancient dinosaurs are ancestors of modern birds. (Anonymous: descendants)

Action: Refers to the manner in which an individual, often a person or other organism, interacts with another individual or itself.

Biology: The field of scientific study focused on living organisms. Those who engage in this study are known as biologists.

cell: (in biology) The smallest unit of structure and function within an organism. Typically, it consists of a watery substance enclosed by a membrane, and while it is microscopic, it forms the basis for complex life. Depending on their size, organisms can contain thousands to trillions of cells.

Chemicals: Substances composed of two or more atoms that bond together in definite proportions and structures. For example, water is a chemical formula represented as H₂O, formed when two hydrogen atoms bond with one oxygen atom. “Chemicals” can also describe the properties resulting from reactions between various compounds.

Chemical messenger: (Physiology) A molecule responsible for transmitting signals from one region of the body to another. Signals between neurons are communicated through these chemical messengers. Hormones represent another category of these messengers, conveying information between different body parts.

circuit: A system responsible for transmitting electrical signals. In biological systems, nerve cells construct circuits to send electrical signals to the brain. In electronic devices, cables typically facilitate these signals for mechanical, computational, or other functions.

fmri: A specialized medical imaging technique used to study brain activity. It employs a powerful magnetic field to observe blood flow in the brain while an individual engages in various tasks, such as reading, looking at images, or pondering spoken words. Tracking blood flow helps researchers identify active brain regions during these activities. (See also MRI or magnetic resonance imaging)

Honey: A thick substance produced and stored by honeybees in honeycombs, created from nectar. Foraging bees collect nectar from flowers, then return to the hive where enzymes are added to the nectar, converting it into honey as some water evaporates.

Hypothalamic: Referring to the hypothalamus, a brain region that regulates numerous body functions by releasing hormones, including those that control appetite.

metabolism (adj. metabolic): A collection of essential chemical reactions that take place within cells and larger structures like organs. These processes are vital for growth, reproduction, movement, and responses to environmental changes.

Neuroscience: A scientific discipline focused on the structure and function of the brain and the nervous system. Professionals in this field are referred to as Neuroscientists.

POMC: An acronym for proopiomelanocortin, a protein involved in multiple critical functions, including appetite regulation, pigmentation, and stress response.

protein: A complex molecule composed of one or more long chains of amino acids. Proteins are crucial for all living organisms, forming the building blocks of cells, muscles, and tissues and driving various cellular processes. Examples include antibodies, hemoglobin, and enzymes; many drugs also target proteins.

reward: Stimuli, such as tasty food pellets in animal behavior studies, offered to animals and humans to influence behavior and promote learning.

Organization: Refers to structures created from cells that comprise distinct materials forming animals, plants, or fungi. Cells work within tissues to carry out specific functions in organisms, such as how various organs in the human body are composed of different tissue types.