Neuroscience of Stress & Feeding Behavior

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Questions and Answers

Why are set-point theories of hunger considered deficient?

They effectively address learned behaviors associated with eating.

They accurately account for blood glucose levels.

They do not consider the roles of taste and social influences. (correct)

They are based solely on physiological needs.

What happens during the cephalic phase of digestion?

The stomach is filled with food.

Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream.

Physiological processes are triggered by the sight and smell of food. (correct)

Food is actively chewed and swallowed.

How does THC influence appetite according to the content?

It has no noticeable effect on appetite.

It enhances olfaction by affecting inhibitory signals in the olfactory bulb. (correct)

It primarily regulates dopamine levels related to pleasure from eating.

It decreases the desire for certain foods.

What factor contributes to the prevalence of dietary deficiencies in society?

Manufacturers produce foods that lack essential nutrients despite being tasty. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary impact of learned taste preferences on eating behavior?

They often lead to cravings for unhealthy food options. Signup and view all the answers

During which phase are nutrients absorbed into the bloodstream?

Substrate phase Signup and view all the answers

Which factor can increase eating behavior according to the positive incentive perspective?

The time since the last meal. Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is NOT listed as a major factor influencing hunger and eating?

Genetic predisposition Signup and view all the answers

What is the glucostatic theory primarily concerned with?

The regulation of blood glucose levels Signup and view all the answers

According to the lipostatic theory, what triggers a person’s eating behavior?

Deviations from an individual's body fat set point Signup and view all the answers

What system regulates hunger according to the glucostatic theory?

A blood glucose monitoring system Signup and view all the answers

What happens when blood glucose levels return to their set point according to glucostatic theory?

Satiation occurs Signup and view all the answers

What physiological response is often mistaken for hunger when it may actually indicate preparation for food intake?

Premeal hunger Signup and view all the answers

How does the lipostatic theory differ from glucostatic theory in terms of regulation?

It is primarily concerned with body fat set points Signup and view all the answers

What mechanism does the glucostatic theory suggest causes the feeling of hunger?

Decreased blood glucose levels Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors does NOT influence the amount we eat?

Exercise levels Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of leptin in the body's regulation of appetite?

Decreases appetite and increases energy expenditure Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the nervous system is primarily involved in the integration of emotional responses such as stress related to feeding?

Limbic system Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of the lipostatic theory regarding body fat?

It includes compensatory mechanisms for changes in body fat. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following peptides is associated with increased appetite?

Neuropeptide Y Signup and view all the answers

What effect does sensory-specific satiety have on meal size?

Limits the amount consumed based on food variety Signup and view all the answers

Which hormone is released by fat cells and plays a critical role in appetite regulation?

Leptin Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best describes sham eating?

It refers to non-hungry eating without physiological responses. Signup and view all the answers

What change occurs in the body when blood levels of leptin rise?

Decreased appetite and increased energy expenditure Signup and view all the answers

What effect does serotonin have on food consumption during a meal?

Reduces the amount of food consumed. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true regarding serotonin and dietary carbohydrates?

Serotonin levels spike particularly in response to carbohydrates. Signup and view all the answers

Which physiological response is a characteristic of the stress response?

Increased vigilance and arousal. Signup and view all the answers

What role does adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) play in the stress response?

It triggers the release of glucocorticoids from the adrenal cortex. Signup and view all the answers

Which structure is primarily responsible for integrating sensory information related to stress?

The central nucleus of the amygdala. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary effect of glucocorticoids released in response to stressors?

They contribute to the physiological components of the stress response. Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the brain contains glucocorticoid receptors that respond to cortisol during stress?

Hippocampus. Signup and view all the answers

How do serotonin agonists affect hunger and body weight in humans?

They can reduce hunger and body weight. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Course Information

Course: Neuroscience of stress and feeding behavior
Course number: 12
Date: 20 December 2024
Lecturer: Dr. Michael-Bogdan Mărgineanu

Course Content Overview

Introductory course covers the morphology of the human nervous system (both central and peripheral), methods for studying the nervous system, neurons and glia, the motor system, somatic sensory system, and sensory information integration.
Neuroscience of stress and feeding behavior explores neurodegeneration and neural regeneration, examines mental illnesses from a cellular and molecular perspective, and investigates long-term feeding behavior regulation.

Long-Term Feeding Behavior

Energy balance is crucial to maintaining health, where intake and expenditure of energy are critical factors.
Intake greater than expenditure (consuming more than needed) leads to obesity.
Intake lower than expenditure (consuming less than needed) results in starvation.

Glucostatic and Lipostatic Theories

Eating is regulated by a system designed to maintain a blood glucose set point.
Hungry when glucose levels fall below set point. Filled when back to set point.
Set point for body fat also exists and has related compensatory mechanisms.
Set point theories are deficient in fully explaining eating behavior and needs.

Appetite, Eating and Digestion

Appetite is influenced by flavor, learned experiences, time since last meal, presence of others eating, blood glucose levels etc. This impacts food choices.
Digestion has three phases (cephalic, gastric, substrate):
- Cephalic phase: anticipation of food (saliva and gastric juice production) triggered by smell or sight.
- Gastric phase: intense responses when chewing/swallowing as stomach fills.
- Substrate phase: nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream as partially digested food is carried through the intestines.

THC, Olfaction, and Appetite

THC (psychoactive component of marijuana) enhances olfaction by suppressing the release of glutamate.

When, What, and How Much We Eat

Food preferences and aversions are learned.
Dietary deficiencies exist despite our ability to learn what to eat.
The amount of food consumed is related to many factors:
Pre-meal hunger is the expectation to eat, not necessarily a direct need for food.
Meal size is influenced by variety of flavors available.

When, What, and How Much We Eat: Factors - Detail

Satiety signals include various peptides regulating food intake, including cholecystokinin, bombesin, glucagon, alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, and somatostatin.
Gastric distension is also a satiety signal.
Previous eating experience impacts future meal size.
Serving size and social interactions impact portions.
"Sensory-specific satiety" exists: the more flavors available, the larger the meal.
Hunger peptides such as neuropeptide Y, galanin, orexin-A, and ghrelin also play a role.
The hormone leptin regulates body mass by decreasing appetite and increasing energy expenditure.

Leptin and the Hypothalamus

Leptin levels impact feeding behavior in the hypothalamus: increased leptin inhibits, decreased leptin activates.
Signals regulate metabolic rate.

Summary of Responses to Leptin

Blood leptin level, and activity of MSH/CART and NPY/AgRP neurons in the hypothalamus are related to responses of the body to increase or decrease feeding.

Serotonin, Food and Mood

Serotonin levels are low between meals, rise before meals, and spike after eating.
Particularly associated with carbohydrates.
Serotonin has influences on food intake.
Tryptophan is an amino acid that is essential to the production of serotonin.

The Stress Response

The stress response is coordinated to threats.
Avoidance, vigilance, and arousal are aspects of the stress response.
Stress activates the sympathetic nervous system and increases epinephrine and norepinephrine.
Brief stressors boost cytokine production.
Glucocorticoids are released from the adrenal cortex (in response to ACTH from anterior pituitary).

Control of Stress Response by the Amygdala and Hippocampus

The amygdala relays sensory and neocortex information regarding stress to the central nucleus, activating the stress response.
The hippocampus can regulate the stress response through negative feedback by inhibiting CRH release.

Effects of Childhood Stress

Childhood stress impacts brain development through changes in monoamine and glutamate metabolism affecting function and neuroactivity.
Related effects include reduced monoamine synthesis and availability, increased glutamate release and availability.
Stress impacts brain function, development, and reactivity over long periods.

Brain Reward System and Anti-Tumor Immunity

The brain reward system affects anti-tumor immunity demonstrating a potential biological link.
VTA-activated (reward related) signaling impacts tumor development.

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Description

This quiz explores the intricate relationship between stress and feeding behavior as discussed in the Neuroscience course. It covers key concepts such as energy balance, neurodegeneration, and the cellular mechanisms behind mental illnesses. Assess your understanding of the nervous system's role in regulating long-term eating habits.

Neuroscience of Stress & Feeding Behavior - Quiz

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