Food reward, not hunger, is the main driving force behind eating in the modern obesogenic
environment. Palatable foods, generally calorie-dense and rich in sugar/fat, are thus readily …

The transcription factor, ΔFosB, is robustly and persistently induced in striatum by several
chronic stimuli, such as drugs of abuse, antipsychotic drugs, natural rewards, and stress …

The neuromodulator orexin has been identified as a key factor for motivated arousal
including recent evidence that sleep deprivation-induced enhancement of reward behavior …

Objective The paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus (PVN), an integrative center in the
brain, orchestrates a wide range of physiological and behavioral responses. While the PVN …

Melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) signaling mediates diverse physiological functions,
including energy balance, glucose homeostasis, and autonomic activity. Although the lateral …

Chronic stress induces presynaptic and postsynaptic modifications in the paraventricular
nucleus of the hypothalamus that are consistent with enhanced excitatory hypothalamo …

Rationale The orexin/hypocretin system has recently been implicated in reward-seeking,
especially for highly salient food and drug rewards. We reasoned that this system may be …

Abstract Rationale The orexin (Orx)/hypocretin system has been implicated in reward-
seeking, especially for highly salient food and drug rewards. We recently demonstrated that …

Previous research demonstrates that Slc6a15, a neutral amino acid transporter, is
associated with depression susceptibility. However, no study examined Slc6a15 in the …

Rationale Bulimia nervosa (BN) is highly comorbid with substance abuse and shares
common phenotypic and genetic predispositions with drug addiction. Although treatments …