Brainstem sensing of multiple body signals during food consumption

article Brainstem sensing of multiple body signals during food consumption epub_ahead yes Rachel A. Essner author Kiersten Ruda author Hannah J. Choh author Hakan Kücükdereli author 5d5f6ea4-ef9e-11f0-a10a-85e12a3552af Oren Amsalem author Julia Edelhaus author Gracesenia Chahyadinata author Sverre Grødem author Kristian K. Lensjø author Teresa E. Lever author Mark L. Andermann author MaJö department The peripheral neural pathways that relay oral and post-ingestive chemo- and mechanosensory signals to the brain during food consumption are increasingly well understood. Far less is known about how these and other body signals are integrated and organized in the brainstem lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBN), a key interoceptive sensory hub. We established methods for dense calcium imaging of 100s of neurons from mouse LPBN. Food consumption drove a seconds-long wave of activity across LPBN, with dynamics mirroring the movement of food through the upper gastrointestinal tract as observed using X-ray videofluoroscopy. By imaging the same neurons across days, we found that spatially clustered subsets of neurons encoded oral signals, stomach filling, visceral malaise, arousal, and/or body movement. Moreover, only certain subsets were modulated by cortical input. Together, these experiments establish a platform for understanding how peripheral and central interoceptive signals are integrated in the brainstem to guide behavior. Cell Press2026 eng Neuron 0896-6273 1097-4199 4275372910.1016/j.neuron.2026.08.015 Essner, Rachel A., et al. “Brainstem Sensing of Multiple Body Signals during Food Consumption.” Neuron, Cell Press, 2026, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2026.08.015">10.1016/j.neuron.2026.08.015</a>. Essner RA, Ruda K, Choh HJ, et al. Brainstem sensing of multiple body signals during food consumption. Neuron. 2026. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2026.08.015">10.1016/j.neuron.2026.08.015</a> R. A. Essner et al., “Brainstem sensing of multiple body signals during food consumption,” Neuron. Cell Press, 2026. Essner, R. A., Ruda, K., Choh, H. J., Kücükdereli, H., Amsalem, O., Edelhaus, J., … Andermann, M. L. (2026). Brainstem sensing of multiple body signals during food consumption. Neuron. Cell Press. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2026.08.015">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2026.08.015</a> Essner, Rachel A., Kiersten Ruda, Hannah J. Choh, Hakan Kücükdereli, Oren Amsalem, Julia Edelhaus, Gracesenia Chahyadinata, et al. “Brainstem Sensing of Multiple Body Signals during Food Consumption.” Neuron. Cell Press, 2026. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2026.08.015">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2026.08.015</a>. R.A. Essner, K. Ruda, H.J. Choh, H. Kücükdereli, O. Amsalem, J. Edelhaus, G. Chahyadinata, S. Grødem, K.K. Lensjø, T.E. Lever, M.L. Andermann, Neuron (2026). Essner RA, Ruda K, Choh HJ, Kücükdereli H, Amsalem O, Edelhaus J, Chahyadinata G, Grødem S, Lensjø KK, Lever TE, Andermann ML. 2026. Brainstem sensing of multiple body signals during food consumption. Neuron. 230032026-09-27T22:01:53Z2026-10-07T08:40:54Z