September 4, 2014
Does Your Nose Make You Eat More?
Scientists from the University of Bordeaux say that the type 1 cannabinoid receptor in the olfactory bulb in the brain could cause you to eat more at the smell of food. They discovered what links hunger and increased smell perception the brain. They found that CB1 cannabinoid receptors control a circuit that connects the olfactory bulb to the cerebral cortex. When hunger is felt, it activates the olfactory circuit. They also found that in mice, the role of the CB1 receptor lead to increased food intake. Scientists hope that by better understanding this smell/food intake connection, they can develop treatments for obesity and eating disorders through the olfactory system.
[ Read the Article: Brain Mechanism Discovered Linking Food Smell And How Much We Eat ]