The understanding of the neural control of appetite sheds light on the pathogenesis of eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and obesity. Both diseases are a result of maladaptive eating behaviors (overeating or undereating) and are associated with life-threatening health problems. The fine regulation of appetite involves genetic, physiological, and environmental factors, which are detected and integrated in the brain by specific neuronal populations. For centuries, the hypothalamus has been the center of attention in the scientific community as a key regulator of appetite. The hypothalamus receives and sends axonal projections to several other brain regions that are important for the integration of sensory and emotional information. These connections ensure that appropriate behavioral decisions are made depending on the individual’s emotional state and environment. Thus, the mechanisms by which higher-order brain regions integrate exteroceptive information to coordinate feeding is of great importance. In this review, we will focus on the functional and anatomical projections connecting the hypothalamus to the limbic system and higher-order brain centers in the cortex. We will also address the mechanisms by which specific neuronal populations located in higher-order centers regulate appetite and how maladaptive eating behaviors might arise from altered connections among cortical and subcortical areas with the hypothalamus.

对食欲神经控制的理解揭示了神经性厌食症和肥胖症等进食障碍的发病机制。这两种疾病都是不良饮食行为（暴饮暴食或暴饮暴食）的结果，并与危及生命的健康问题有关。食欲的精细调节涉及遗传、生理和环境因素，这些因素由特定的神经元群检测并整合到大脑中。几个世纪以来，下丘脑作为食欲的关键调节器一直是科学界关注的焦点。下丘脑接收轴突投射并将其发送到其他几个大脑区域，这些区域对于整合感觉和情绪信息很重要。这些联系确保根据个人的情绪状态和环境做出适当的行为决定。因此，高阶大脑区域整合外部感受信息以协调进食的机制非常重要。在这篇综述中，我们将重点关注将下丘脑连接到边缘系统和皮质中高阶大脑中枢的功能和解剖投射。我们还将讨论位于高阶中枢的特定神经元群调节食欲的机制，以及皮质和皮质下区域与下丘脑之间的连接改变可能如何引起适应不良的饮食行为。高阶大脑区域整合外部感受信息以协调进食的机制非常重要。在这篇综述中，我们将重点关注将下丘脑连接到边缘系统和皮质中高阶大脑中枢的功能和解剖投射。我们还将讨论位于高阶中枢的特定神经元群调节食欲的机制，以及皮质和皮质下区域与下丘脑之间的连接改变可能如何引起适应不良的饮食行为。高阶大脑区域整合外部感受信息以协调进食的机制非常重要。在这篇综述中，我们将重点关注将下丘脑连接到边缘系统和皮质中高阶大脑中枢的功能和解剖投射。我们还将讨论位于高阶中枢的特定神经元群调节食欲的机制，以及皮质和皮质下区域与下丘脑之间的连接改变可能如何引起适应不良的饮食行为。