Heating and eating: Brown adipose tissue thermogenesis precedes food ingestion as part of the ultradian basic rest-activity cycle in rats

► BAT thermogenesis occurs episodically in an ultradian fashion. ► With ad libitum food, eating begins after the onset of BAT thermogenesis. ► With no food, the container is disturbed after the onset of BAT thermogenesis. ► BAT thermogenesis occurs as part of the basic rest-activity cycle (BRAC). ► Initiation of eating, as part of the BRAC, is centrally programmed.