12/16/2023 0 Comments Thebrain 9 update![]() The finding adds to scientists' understanding of interoception, which involves sensations like hunger, pain, and thirst and tells the brain what's going on inside the body. The scientists were able to mimic this phenomenon in the lab by stimulating these neurons. That allows mice to tolerate the saltiness of sea water. And usually, these neurons will set an upper limit on saltiness.īut when salt levels get extremely low, the body sends a signal that overrides these salt-limiting neurons. Meanwhile, a different set of neurons in the front of the brain monitors the saltiness of any food or water the mice are consuming. "If you stimulate these neurons, then animals run to a sodium source and start eating," Oka says. When the concentration of sodium in the bloodstream begins to fall below healthy levels, a set of neurons in the back of the brain respond by dialing up an animal's craving for salt. ![]() ![]() The reason for this change involves at least two different interactions between the body and brain, Oka's team found. "Animals start liking ocean water," Oka says. But experiments with mice found that when salt levels plummet, the tolerance for salty water goes up. This aversion to super salty foods and beverages holds unless your body is really low on salt, something that's pretty rare in people these days. "But if you imagine a very high concentration of sodium like ocean water, you really hate it." We are happy to drink sodas, sports drinks, and even tap water that contain a little salt, Oka says. The study sought to explain the complicated relationship that people and animals have with salt, also known as sodium chloride. ![]() Too much salt can cause high blood pressure and raise the risk for heart disease and stroke, says Chaudhari, who was not involved in the study. The finding could have health implications because salt ingestion is a "major issue" in many countries, including the United States, says Nirupa Chaudhari, a professor of physiology and biology at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine. "Sodium craving and sodium tolerance are controlled by completely different types of neurons," says Yuki Oka, an author of the study and a professor of biology at Caltech. The question of when salty becomes too salty is decided by a special set of neurons in the front of the brain, researchers report in the journal Cell.Ī separate set of neurons in the back of the brain adjusts your appetite for salt, the researchers showed in a series of experiments on mice. If this year's turkey seems over brined, blame your brain. ![]()
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