Hunger or thirst state uncertainty is resolved by outcome evaluation in medial prefrontal cortex to guide decision-making

Abstract

Physiological need states direct decision-making towards re-establishing homeostasis. Using a two-alternative-forced-choice task for mice that models elements of human decisions, we found that varying hunger and thirst states caused need-inappropriate choices, such as food-seeking when thirsty. These results show limits on interoceptive knowledge of hunger and thirst states to guide decision-making. Instead, need states were identified after food and water consumption by outcome evaluation, which depended on medial prefrontal cortex.

The emergence and influence of internal states

“…For example, individuals may be influenced by diverse physiological and affective need states in parallel, such as thirst, hunger, fear, social isolation, and environmental conditions (availability of food and social or predator encounters). These needs and contextual changes elicit drives that compete or may be mutually reinforcing depending on the context (Duistermars et al, 2018;Eiselt et al, 2021;; Figure 2E). Together, these parameters may result in integrated and complex internal states, which manifest as behavioral switches when one drive overcomes another or may serve to generate entirely unique behavior patterns.…”

“…Together, these parameters may result in integrated and complex internal states, which manifest as behavioral switches when one drive overcomes another or may serve to generate entirely unique behavior patterns. Indeed, recent work has highlighted the overlap between distinct states such as hunger and thirst (Eiselt et al, 2021;Gong et al, 2020). Interestingly, the lateral hypothalamus (LH) of the mouse has been found to be a key hub in organizing behavioral switches in response to multiple diverse internal states (Nieh et al, 2016), emphasizing the complex interactions between different need and motivational states.…”

Central regulation of body fluid homeostasis

“… 119 , 312 ) Furthermore, the medial prefrontal cortex, which is critically involved in higher cognitive function, also participates in the decision-making of water ingestion. 313 ) Further studies on complex neural systems involving various neurons and neural pathways that integrate multiple sources of information for appropriate behavior are necessary to obtain a more complete picture of body fluid homeostasis.…”

Restriction of dietary protein in rats increases progressive-ratio motivation for protein

“…The fulfillment of homeostatic needs such as hunger, thirst or salt appetite is known to drive ingestion-related motivation (Berridge, 2004). As such, food- and water-restricted rodents show increased instrumental responding selectively for the relevant reinforcer (Eiselt et al, 2021; Olarte-Sánchez et al, 2015), demonstrating that depriving rodents of food and water leads to an increase in their incentive value. Similarly, sodium depleted animals are able to perform high-effort sodium-directed activity to restore sodium homeostasis (Quartermain et al, 1967; Schulkin, 1986).…”