How hunger affects how fruit flies process taste and temperature.
Official title: State-dependent modulation of taste and temperature integration in Drosophila
Funded at University of California at Davis · NIH-10718009 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how being hungry affects how fruit flies sense and respond to taste and temperature, which could help us understand how animals, including us, react to food when they're hungry.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $722,625 |
| NIH project number | 1R34NS132843-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10718009 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for benefiting from this research include individuals with conditions affecting sensory processing or appetite regulation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with no interest in or relevance to sensory processing or hunger-related conditions may not receive benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the internal state of hunger influences the way fruit flies integrate taste and temperature signals. By using Drosophila, a simple genetic model, the study aims to uncover the neural circuits involved in this sensory integration. Researchers will monitor neuronal activity related to taste and temperature using advanced calcium imaging techniques. The findings could provide insights into the physiological responses that occur when animals detect food, particularly how hunger signals modulate these processes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance our understanding of sensory processing and its regulation by internal states, potentially informing treatments for related human conditions.
How similar studies have gone: While this research explores novel mechanisms in fruit flies, similar studies in other models have shown promising results in understanding sensory integration.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California at Davis
Davis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hamada, Fumika — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Hamada, Fumika
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.