To survive, animals need to first search for food and then eat it. The lateral hypothalamus (LH) in the brain helps control these behaviors, but it's not clear which specific neurons are responsible. Researchers studied specific LH neurons in male mice that have leptin receptors (LepR). They found these neurons are active both when mice look for food and when they eat. Some of these neurons are active during food-seeking, while others are active during eating. Turning on these neurons made mice more likely to look for and eat food, while turning them off reduced eating behaviors. Additionally, a chemical called Neuropeptide Y (NPY) increased the activity of these neurons, acting like a "go" signal.

This study helps us understand how the brain controls the different steps of eating. This knowledge could lead to new treatments for eating disorders.