Encoding of Bodily State and Motor Action in a Minimal Circuit for Food Consumption

PROJECT SUMMARY Innate behaviors are hard-wired and shared among most mammals, however, it is still not fully understood how these behaviors arise and what neuronal mechanisms control behavior selection. The goal of this proposal is to study feeding behavior as a typical innate behavior to determine the fundamentals of a circuit that connects sensing of the body’s energy state to motor centers for food consumption. This will be done using an integrative approach at behavior, circuit, neuron and synapse level that takes advantage of my existing and proposed training in neuroscience. Results will shed light on the neuronal computations that transform sensations of energy state into motor sequences of chewing and biting and will advance our understanding of behavior selection. Feeding behavior is elicited by changes in bodily energy state (fasted vs. fed) that result in jaw movements of chewing and biting. In contrast to other behaviors, the motor and premotor neurons for jaw muscles are located in the brain and not the spine. Thus, the arc from hunger sensation to motor control is fully brain-based. I previously identified a simple circuit for food consumption that connects neurons sensitive to signals of bodily energy state via only one intermediate node to premotor areas controlling biting and chewing. Building on this data, the mentored phase aims to delineate the role of premotor neurons and their activity patterns with respect to the hypothesis that premotor neurons are structured in a motor map for bite purposes. This aim aligns with my training plan to gain expertise in RNA profiling and single cell calcium imaging through my advisory committee and the high-quality scientific core and support opportunities at Rockefeller University. Additionally, I will also take advantage of the career development and lab management training opportunities offered locally and by the Tri-Institute area. Next, during the independent phase, I will use these skills to elucidate the computations that lead to the behavior selection of feeding and the effect of internal sensations of energy state change. Specifically, it will be determined how competing behaviors (social interactions, fear) can suppress feeding and how integration of food-derived sensations (sight, smell) and bodily signals causes food consumption. This phase is the logical extension of my extensive training in neuroscience and my career objectives to lead my own research group for which this proposal forms the basis of my research direction. Results from this study will shed light on the conceptual principles of how innate behaviors are encoded along a simple sensory to motor circuit. Additionally, results will also provide insight into the mechanisms of energy state coupling with food intake which has important implications for obesity and eating disorders. Finally, this proposal will equip me with the training and initial data needed to start an independent research program that is different from my mentors and aligned with my career goals of studying innate behavior in the context of interoception. .