Brain Circuit Tied to Appetite and Past Experiences Found

Researchers identify neurons that link memories to feeding behavior, pointing to new targets for eating disorder treatments.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Researchers from Mass General Brigham and the Broad Institute have identified brain cells that translate contextual information into appetite control. The findings suggest that dysfunction in this brain circuit could be a factor in disordered eating and obesity, meaning these neurons could be a new target for treatment.

Why it matters

Understanding the neural mechanisms that link our past experiences to current eating behaviors could lead to new therapies for conditions like binge eating disorder, which often arise from a loss of contextual control over feeding.

The details

Using mouse models, the researchers showed that Prodynorphin secreting neurons in the dorsolateral septum (DLS(Pdyn)) relay information between the hippocampus and hypothalamus, the brain regions that store memories of contexts and control feeding, respectively. Silencing these cells or deleting the Pdyn gene prevented mice from associating a prior favorable feeding experience with a location and increased their appetite even in an unfamiliar setting, suggesting the circuit's activity is shaped by experience and prodynorphin signaling.

  • The study was published on February 13, 2026 in the journal Neuron.

The players

Amar Sahay

Senior author of the study, from the Department of Psychiatry at Mass General Brigham and a Broad associate member.

Travis Goode

First author of the study, a Research Fellow in the Sahay lab in the Department of Psychiatry.

Mass General Brigham

The healthcare system where the research was conducted.

Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard

The research institute that collaborated on the study.

Neuron

The scientific journal that published the study.

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What they’re saying

“We identified a neural circuit that is responsible for linking our prior experiences with current aversions and preferences when it comes to dining choices. These findings may shed light on therapeutics to treat disordered eating in humans such as binge eating that arises in part from loss of contextual control or calibration of eating.”

— Amar Sahay, Senior author, Department of Psychiatry at Mass General Brigham (Neuron)

“Dysfunction in dynorphin production or in the neural circuits that use it may contribute to disordered eating. Our findings may point toward new brain targets for eating-related issues.”

— Travis Goode, First author, Research Fellow in the Sahay lab (Neuron)

What’s next

The researchers plan to further investigate how dysfunction in the identified brain circuit may contribute to disordered eating behaviors, with the goal of developing new targeted therapies.

The takeaway

This study provides important insights into the neural mechanisms linking our past experiences to current eating behaviors, opening up new avenues for treating conditions like binge eating disorder that often arise from a loss of contextual control over feeding.