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January 25, 2025 – A groundbreaking study by the Monell Chemical Senses Center reveals that memory plays a significant role in what and how much we eat. Led by Monell Associate Member Guillaume de Lartigue, PhD, the research identifies the brain’s food-specific memory system, providing key insights into how food-related memories could directly contribute to overeating and diet-induced obesity.
Published in Nature Metabolism, the study uncovers a specific group of neurons in the mouse brain that store memories related to sugar and fat. These neurons significantly influence food consumption and body weight, raising important questions about the hidden drivers of overeating in modern society.
The Memory-Brain Connection
“In today’s world, we are constantly bombarded with advertisements and environmental triggers designed to remind us of pleasurable food experiences,” Dr. de Lartigue said. “What’s surprising is that we’ve pinpointed a specific population of neurons in the hippocampus that not only forms these food-related memories but also drives our eating behavior. This connection could have significant implications for body weight and metabolic health.”
These neurons encode memories of the spatial location of nutrient-rich foods, acting as a “memory trace” for foods high in sugar and fat. When these neurons are silenced, mice lose the ability to recall sugar-related memories, leading to a decrease in sugar consumption and preventing weight gain—despite exposure to high-fat and high-sugar diets. Reactivating these neurons, however, increases food intake, further demonstrating how food memories influence dietary choices.
Memory’s Unexpected Role in Eating Behavior
Although it’s known that people remember pleasurable food experiences, the research highlights a surprising discovery: these memories can influence eating behavior in profound ways. “What’s most surprising is that inhibition of these neurons prevents weight gain, even when animals are exposed to diets rich in fat and sugar,” said Dr. de Lartigue.
The study emphasizes the importance of memory systems in the hippocampus, an area of the brain typically associated with spatial memory. In this case, these memory systems are linked directly to metabolism, providing new insights into how memory influences food choices and body weight.
Specific Neurons for Sugar and Fat Memories
Another striking finding is the specificity of these memory circuits. Neurons responsive to sugar influence only sugar-related memories and consumption, while neurons responsive to fat impact fat intake. These systems do not affect other types of memory, such as spatial or non-food-related tasks, indicating the brain’s finely tuned system for differentiating between various nutrients in the environment.
“The specificity of these circuits is fascinating,” said de Lartigue. “It underscores how finely tuned the brain is for linking food to behavior, ensuring animals can differentiate between various nutrient sources in their environment.”
A Potential Breakthrough in Obesity Treatment
This research offers new possibilities for combating overeating and obesity. By targeting the hippocampal memory circuits that drive food consumption, researchers hope to disrupt the memory triggers that contribute to unhealthy eating habits.
“These neurons are critical for linking sensory cues to food intake,” Dr. de Lartigue noted. “Their ability to influence both memory and metabolism makes them promising targets for treating obesity in today’s food-rich world.”
The study’s findings could revolutionize the way we approach the treatment of obesity and overeating, potentially providing a new therapeutic pathway to address these growing health concerns.
Disclaimer: The study discussed in this article was conducted on mice, and while the findings are promising, they may not directly translate to humans. Further research is needed to fully understand the implications of these discoveries for human health and to determine effective treatments for overeating and obesity based on the manipulation of food-related memories.
Reference:
Yang, M., Singh, A., de Araujo, A., McDougle, M., Ellis, H., Décarie-Spain, L., Kanoski, S. E., & de Lartigue, G. (2025). Separate orexigenic hippocampal ensembles shape dietary choice by enhancing contextual memory and motivation. Nature Metabolism. DOI: 10.1038/s42255-024-01194-6
