The cortical location of hunger and thirst: a multifunctional study in sheep

The aim of this project is to establish the cerebral cortical origins of hunger and thirst. These are amongst the most powerful urges known to humans and other animals. We will characterise, for the first time, the effector limb of relays through the brain that have been studied intensely for the last 50 years at subcortical levels. At the end of these experiments we hope to have illustrated the interconnection between parts of the brain responsible for the detection of the body's internal status of energy balance and hydration and the cerebral seat of the drives to eat and drink water.