Figure 3. Neural pathways for sensory and interoceptive processing of thirst and hunger signals.
Schematics showing the sensory and interoceptive pathways in the mammalian brain. The NTS and PBN are potential sites that integrate peripheral and visceral signals. a) Thirst: Black arrows indicate sensory ascending pathways, while blue arrows show thirst-related circuits. b) Hunger: Red arrows show hunger-related circuits.
ACC, Anterior Cingulate Cortex; BLA, Basolateral Amygdala; BNST, Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis; InsCtx, Insular Cortex; OVLT, Vascular Organ of Lamina Terminalis; SON, Supraoptic Nucleus; PVH, Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus; Arc, Arcuate Nucleus; LH, Lateral Hypothalamus; PAG, Periaqueductal Gray; SFO, Subfornical Organ; MnPO, Median Preoptic Nucleus; PBN, Parabrachial Nucleus; NTS, Nucleus Tractus Solitarius