Have You Ever Wondered Why You Get Hungry So Soon?

Skipping a meal often leads to an uncontrollable urge to snack later, and recent research unveils that our brains may hold the answer. John Kanoski and his team at USC Dornsife have cracked the code behind how our memory impacts our cravings. Their groundbreaking study on rats reveals the existence of neurons that create a "meal memory," capturing not only what we've consumed but also when.

The Science of 'Meal Memories'

Every time we eat, our brains store a unique engram, a memory that contains details about the meal, such as location and flavors. Observations from the study showed that neurons in the ventral hippocampus were most active between bites, indicating that these quiet moments are crucial for encoding our meal experiences.

Why Meal Memories Matter