Hunger or thirst state uncertainty is resolved by outcome evaluation in medial prefrontal cortex to guide decision-making.

janelia7_blocks-janelia7_biblio_header | block

Nature Neuroscience. 2021 Jul 01;24(7):907-912. doi: 10.1038/s41593-021-00850-4

Hunger or thirst state uncertainty is resolved by outcome evaluation in medial prefrontal cortex to guide decision-making. Pachitariu LabSternson Lab

Eiselt A, Chen S, Chen J, Arnold J, Kim T, Pachitariu M, Sternson SM

janelia7_blocks-janelia7_biblio_abstract | block

Abstract

Physiological need states direct decision-making toward re-establishing homeostasis. Using a two-alternative forced choice task for mice that models elements of human decisions, we found that varying hunger and thirst states caused need-inappropriate choices, such as food seeking when thirsty. These results show limits on interoceptive knowledge of hunger and thirst states to guide decision-making. Instead, need states were identified after food and water consumption by outcome evaluation, which depended on the medial prefrontal cortex.