Hypothalamus News and Research

RSS

The Hypothalamus is the area of the brain that controls body temperature, hunger, and thirst.

Study Sheds Light on Development and Evolution of the Human Hypothalamus

The hypothalamus is a small but critical region at the base of the brain that controls the autonomic nervous system, regulates body temperature, signals hunger and thirst, exerts hormonal control over the pituitary gland, helps set circadian rhythms, influences sexual behavior and reproduction, and plays a role in instinctive behaviors like fear, aggression, and maternal bonding.

9 Apr 2025

Stanford Researchers Find a Molecule That Rivals Ozempic in Weight Loss

BRP emerges as a promising peptide for weight loss, activating appetite control pathways without triggering nausea, paving the way for safer obesity therapies.

17 Mar 2025

Neural Mechanism Involved in Leptin Resistance Revealed

Worldwide obesity rates have more than doubled since 1990, with nearly a billion people now falling into the category.

5 Mar 2025

Scientists Uncover Mechanism Linking OPN3 to Food Intake Regulation

Scientists discovered years ago that the hypothalamus - which helps to manage body temperature, hunger, sex drive, sleep and more - includes neurons that express the protein opsin 3 (OPN3).

17 Feb 2025

PanK4 Protein Could Be Key to Better Control of Blood Sugar and Metabolism

Physical activity is not only important for fitness, but also for health. This is confirmed by a new study conducted under the direction of Prof. Dr. Maximilian Kleinert at the German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke (DIfE). His team discovered that the protein PanK4 plays a crucial role in the energy metabolism of skeletal muscles.

13 Feb 2025

Study Reveals How Male Ruff Birds Use a "Super Enzyme" to Tame Excess Testosterone

We normally associate high testosterone levels with male dominance and aggression. Among ruffs – a shore bird that breeds across Europe and Asia – some males suffer from too much of it.

24 Jan 2025

Mapping the Aging Brain: A Single-Cell View of Transcriptomic Changes

Research reveals how aging impacts gene expression across brain cell types, identifying critical changes in the hypothalamus linked to health and function.

9 Jan 2025

Uncovering the Cellular Mechanisms of Brain Aging

Not all brain cell types age in the same way, according to new brain mapping research supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

2 Jan 2025

Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Sheds Light on Craniopharyngioma Tumor Subtypes

Craniopharyngiomas are brain tumors that negatively impact the hormonal function of the nearby pituitary.

17 Dec 2024

Simple Neural Circuit Controls Chewing and Appetite

Speaking, singing, coughing, laughing, yelling, yawning, chewing-;we use our jaws for many purposes. Each action requires a complex coordination of muscles whose activity is managed by neurons in the brain.

24 Oct 2024

Gut Bacteria Influence Hormonal Balance and Hypopituitarism Symptoms in Mice

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have shown that the balance of bacteria in the gut can influence symptoms of hypopituitarism in mice.

27 Sep 2024

New Model Reveals Interplay Between Circadian Rhythms and Sleep-Wake Cycles in Gene Expression

A mathematical, driven, damped harmonic oscillator model to assess the varying contributions of circadian cues and sleep-wake processes on gene expression and the rhythmic transcriptome.

18 Jul 2024

How an obesity gene influences brain function

A complex condition, obesity is brought on by a confluence of factors including behavior, diet, and heredity. Getting enough food to survive and thrive was a challenge for millennia.

16 Jul 2024

TRPC5 Gene Alterations: A Key Player in Obesity and Postpartum Depression

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, the University of Cambridge and collaborating institutions have discovered that alterations in the human gene TRPC5 cause obesity and postpartum depression.

3 Jul 2024

Scientists Identify Mechanism Behind Post-Traumatic Fear Responses

Neurobiologists have discovered how stress causes the brain to become fearful in situations like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and how to stop it.

15 Mar 2024

Study Uncovers How Oxytocin Boosts Memory in Animals

Researchers have discovered particular oxytocin neurons in the mouse brain that influence memory for object recognition.

14 Feb 2024

Pain-Triggered Oxytocin in the Brain Leads Mice to Shun Bullies

Mice, like humans, fight for mates and territory, form intricate social groups, and learn when it is safer to stay away from particular opponents.

25 Jan 2024

National Korea Maritime and Ocean University Researchers Explore the Impact of Microplastics and Toxin Exposure on Goldfish

Microplastic particles can travel long distances in oceans and are known to carry with them harmful and persistent organic pollutants like benzo[α]pyrene (BaP), a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon.

11 Jan 2024

Largest Gestational Diabetes Study Reveals 9 New Genetic Regions

The largest genetic study of gestational diabetes to date has led to a discovery of nine novel genetic regions linked to this severe and common pregnancy complication.

8 Jan 2024

Midshipman Fish Song Shows Midbrain's Role in Vocal Production

Talkative midshipman fish also referred to as “California singing fish,” rely heavily on the midbrain to initiate and organize the trains of sounds necessary for vocal communication.

4 Jan 2024