When the body is low on salt, special cells in the brainstem that detect this imbalance send a 'go' signal to the salt-craving neurons, turning them on.

Scientific Claim

In sodium-depleted mice, excitatory inputs from HSD2-expressing neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract are necessary and sufficient to activate pre-locus coeruleus prodynorphin neurons and drive sodium appetite.

Original Statement

“A majority of recorded pre-LCPDYN neurons received monosynaptic excitatory inputs from NTSHSD2 neurons... optogenetic stimulation of NTSHSD2 neurons activated pre-LCPDYN neurons in sated animals... ablation of NTSHSD2 neurons greatly attenuated c-Fos expression in pre-LCPDYN neurons after sodium-depletion.”

From study:Chemosensory modulation of neural circuits for sodium appetite

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

definitive

Can make definitive causal claims

Assessment Explanation

The study uses precise circuit mapping, optogenetic activation, and targeted ablation to demonstrate that NTSHSD2 inputs are both necessary and sufficient to drive pre-LC PDYN activity in mice, supporting definitive causal claims within the model.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (0)

No supporting evidence found

Contradicting (1)

Chemosensory modulation of neural circuits for sodium appetite

Cohort Study

Animal

2019 Apr

The study found a brain circuit that makes mice crave salt, but it didn’t look at the specific brain cells the claim says start the craving, so we can’t say if the claim is right or wrong.

Source Study

Chemosensory modulation of neural circuits for sodium appetite

Score: 12

DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1053-2

Similar Assertions

The brain uses two different signals to control salt craving: one slow signal that says 'we need salt' and one fast signal that says 'you tasted salt, stop now'—and they work together to make the mouse eat just enough.

84%

These brain cells only make mice want salt—not water or food—and don’t affect how much they move around.

84%

Mice stop wanting salt almost instantly when they taste it in their mouth—even before the salt gets into their body—and this happens because a specific brain signal turns off when salt is tasted.

83%

When mice are low on salt, a specific group of brain cells makes them desperately want to eat salt—even if it tastes bad—and these cells also make the mice feel bad, so they do things to stop the feeling.

82%

When mice taste salt, a different group of brain cells that use a calming chemical (GABA) gets turned on and sends a 'stop' signal to the salt-craving cells, making them quiet down.

79%