Behavioral neuroscience aims to describe a causal relationship between neuronal processes and behavior. Animals' ever-changing physiological needs alter their internal states. Internal states then alter neuronal processes to adapt the behavior of the animal enabling it to meet its needs. Here, we describe nutrient-specific appetites as an attractive framework to study how internal states shape complex neuronal processes and resulting behavioral outcomes. Understanding how neurons detect nutrient states and how these are integrated at the level of neuronal circuits will provide a multilevel description of the mechanisms underlying complex feeding and foraging decisions.

中文翻译：

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营养稳态-将内部状态转化为行为。

行为神经科学旨在描述神经元过程与行为之间的因果关系。动物不断变化的生理需求会改变其内部状态。然后内部状态改变神经元过程，以适应动物的行为，使其能够满足其需求。在这里，我们将特定营养素的食欲描述为一个有吸引力的框架，以研究内部状态如何塑造复杂的神经元过程和由此产生的行为结果。了解神经元如何检测营养状态以及这些营养状态如何在神经元回路水平进行整合，将对复杂的进食和觅食决策的潜在机制提供多层次的描述。