Hunger Motivation

Hunger Hunger is one of the three most significant motivators a person experiences. It is a major concept in our everyday lives that influences behaviours we gravitate to ourselves. What drives this motivator? What are the mechanics and processes involved with feelings of hunger and fullness? For a better understanding starting from the biological aspects that soon combine with social aspects will develop a thorough sense of how hunger operates. A reliable process to accurately indicate true hunger is by the use of the blood glucose level. Levels are monitored through glucoreceptor cells in the brain and liver, of which we are not aware of our levels and is a good thing. It is not an ideal behaviour to constantly think about your blood glucose level every day of every minute. In addition to monitoring our glucose levels, the brain also monitors other factors such as hormone levels that operate the hunger mechanics. There are four hormones associated with hunger: cholecystokinin, leptin, glucocorticoids, and ghrelin. Cholecystokinin and leptin reduce the appetite when its levels are increased. In contrast, glucocorticoids and ghrelin enhance the appetite when increased in the body. A special tool of the brain is used in detecting the levels of the hormones to initiate the feeling of hunger or fullness. This tool is called the hypothalamus which used key areas to function the hunger mechanic. It also interacts with another part of the brain called the hippocampus in the experience of hunger and fullness. The lateral hypothalamus when stimulated will increase appetite but reduce it if it has sustained damage. The ventro-medial hypothalamus operates in the opposite way as it reduces appetite if stimulated but increases it if damaged. Specific types of hunger or “cravings” as one would call it are controlled by the paraventricular nucleus part of the hypothalamus. With this information, could we not develop ways to mold people’s appetites and over eating? Some would