The science behind being hangry
This microscopic image of a portion of the rodent brain highlights a set of cells known as AgRP neurons (stained magenta), which sit at the base of the hypothalamus. The cells are involved in appetite control; their position near the bloodstream allows them to easily to get signals about the body’s metabolic state. NIDDK This article originally appeared in Knowable Magazine. Maybe it starts with a low-energy feeling, or maybe you’re getting a little cranky. You might have a headache or difficulty concentrating. Your brain is sending you a message: You’re hungry. Find food. Studies in mice have pinpointed a cluster of cells called AgRP neurons near the underside of the brain that may create this unpleasant hungry, even “hangry,” feeling. They sit near the brain’s blood supply, giving them access to hormones arriving from...