How hunger and thirst affect our sense of smell
Official title: State-dependent modulation of olfactory behavior
Funded at Harvard Medical School · NIH-10875152 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how being hungry or thirsty affects how we react to different food and drink smells, using mice to explore how our brains respond when we have these needs, which could help us understand why we crave certain things when we're hungry or thirsty.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard Medical School NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $541,327 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DC020593-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10875152 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research would be individuals interested in understanding the biological basis of hunger and thirst and how these states affect behavior.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have an interest in or are not affected by issues related to hunger, thirst, or olfactory perception may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the states of hunger and thirst influence the way we respond to different smells, particularly food and drink odors. By using advanced genetic techniques in mice, the study aims to uncover the specific brain pathways that are activated when these physiological needs are present. The goal is to understand how our body's needs can shape our behavior and sensory perception, providing insights into the underlying mechanisms of motivation and attraction to food and drink. This could help clarify how the brain processes various smells and how these processes are altered by hunger and thirst.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for addressing eating disorders and obesity by understanding how physiological states influence food-related behaviors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in understanding the relationship between physiological states and sensory processing, making this approach promising.
Where this research is happening
-
Harvard Medical School
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liberles, Stephen Daniel — Harvard Medical School
- Study coordinator: Liberles, Stephen Daniel
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.