These 3 neurons may underlie the drive to eat food

The drive to eat may be controlled by a very simple circuit in the brain, new research in mice suggests.

Just three types of brain cells collaborate to suppress or enhance appetite, driving mice to eat less or more food, the study found.

First, specialized neurons detect "hunger-signaling hormones" that say whether an animal is full or hungry. These neurons then control the activity of neurons in a different part of the brain, which in turn, controls a third set of neurons in the jaw: These final nerve cells direct the movements needed for chewing.