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Methods used to study neuronal mechanisms
regulating feeding & drinking

Behavioral

      a.  observation of undisturbed behaviors

      b.  manipulations of thirst and hunger

      c.  manipulations of physiological state (glucose levels, etc.)

  Anatomical

      a.  tract tracing

      b.  cell morphology

      c.  synaptic structure

  Lesions

      a.  spatially targeted

          1. aspiration

          2. knife cuts

          3. gamma knife

          4. radio-frequency

      b.  cellularly targeted

          1. excitotoxic

          2. neurotoxic

          3. knockout mutants

  Stimulation

      a.  electrical

          1. in situ

          2. of afferents

      b.  chemical (pharmacological)

          1. peripheral stimuli

          2. neurotransmitter agonists & antagonists

          3. other extracellular constituents

          4. intracellular (2nd messengers etc.)

  Recording (in vivo and in vitro)

      a.  extracellular

          1. field potentials

          2. multiple-units

          3. single-units

      b.  intracellular (sharp-electrode)

          1. current-clamp (membrane voltage responses)

          2. voltage-clamp (membrane current responses)

          3. associated pharmacology of responses

      c.  whole-cell (patch-electrode)

          1. current-clamp (membrane voltage responses)

          2. voltage-clamp (membrane current responses)

          3. associated pharmacology of responses

      d.  patch-clamp

          1. macro-currents (various configurations)

          2. single channel (various configurations)

          3. associated pharmacology of responses

  Imaging

      a.  MRI

          1. anatomical

          2. functional

      b.  PET

          1. anatomical

          2. functional

      c.  CAT

          1. anatomical

          2. functional