The rats ate more because of the brain receptor change—not because they were moving around more or less.
Scientific Claim
The feeding response mediated by dopamine D1-like receptors in the ventromedial hypothalamus of 24-hour food-deprived male Wistar rats is independent of changes in locomotor activity.
Original Statement
“In addition, we determined that this response was independent of locomotor activity.”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
overstated
Study Design Support
Design cannot support claim
Appropriate Language Strength
association
Can only show association/correlation
Assessment Explanation
Based on abstract only - full methodology not available to verify. The claim implies a definitive exclusion of locomotor effects without details on how locomotion was measured or controlled.
More Accurate Statement
“The increase in food intake associated with dopamine D1-like receptor activation in the ventromedial hypothalamus of 24-hour food-deprived male Wistar rats is not accompanied by measurable changes in locomotor activity.”
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
The scientists found that making a specific brain area more active with dopamine made hungry rats eat more, but it didn’t make them move around more—so eating more wasn’t just because they were more active.