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

Eiselt et al. report conditions under which mice confuse thirst for hunger, similar to some human decisions that lead to over-eating. Evaluation of physiological need state requires consuming food or water and depends on the prefrontal cortex. Physiological need states direct decision-making toward 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 the medial prefrontal cortex.

Automated summary

The study found that mice can confuse hunger and thirst, similar to humans who sometimes overeat due to this confusion. The results show that decision-making in evaluating physiological need states tends to direct individuals towards restoring homeostasis. Instead of being guided by interoceptive knowledge of hunger and thirst states, need states are identified through outcome evaluation after food and water consumption.