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Scientists have discovered how to control the feeling of thirst
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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Neurophysiologists from the United States of America have found an area in the brain of mice that is responsible for the feeling of thirst, and they were also able to control its work. According to experts, this discovery may be useful for doctors who treat extravascular disorders in old age that cause a disorder of the feeling of thirst.
The discovery was made at Columbia University Research Center by Charles Zucker and his team. Today, Zucker's team is considered the leading scientists studying how the brain processes and perceives taste sensations. About twenty years ago, this group of specialists identified and described the neuronal circuits that help recognize the five basic tastes.
As Zucker noted, water has no taste, which is why the body is unable to assess the amount of liquid and the volume of liquid consumed based on changes in the level of its molecules.
In all likelihood, dehydration signals in the body are sent by other mechanisms, the operating principle of which scientists have not been able to unravel.
Several years ago, experts observed the brain condition of animals that suffered from severe thirst. As a result, they discovered that the thirst center is located in the subvault of the brain, which is also responsible for hormone production, appetite, cardiovascular system activity, and other functions.
All subsequent studies in this area ended in failure; specialists were unable to test the hypothesis and learn to keep the feeling of thirst under control. Effects on various groups of neurons in the subvaginal space did not force animals to experience a strong feeling of thirst or, conversely, to refuse water. Zucker's team decided to re-check the results of previous studies using the method of "connecting" and "disconnecting" neurons with a laser or light (optogenetics).
Using optogynetics, Zucker and his team were able to understand what had caused all the previous studies to fail. As it turned out, there are two groups of nerve cells in the subvulus that are involved in the emergence of the feeling of thirst. One type of nerve cell, CAMKII neurons, is responsible for the emergence of the feeling of thirst, and the second, VGAT neurons, is responsible for suppressing this feeling.
As the experts explained, the mice, which were calmly in the cage, were stimulated by a laser group of neurons that stimulate thirst, forcing the animal to look for a source of water and drink until the laser was turned on. During the experiments, the rodents drank a huge amount of liquid, about 10% of the animal's body weight (this is equal to if a person drank about 6 liters).
The specialists also influenced another group of neurons and obtained the opposite effect to the previous one, i.e. the rodents drank 80% less water than they needed.
Currently, experts do not know what excites each group of neurons in the brain. According to Zucker's team, groups of neurons monitor water levels indirectly by noting changes in the body's electrolyte balance.
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