The belly rules the nose: feeding state-dependent modulation of peripheral chemosensory responses

Feeding history and the presence of food dramatically alter chemosensory behaviors. Recent results indicate that internal nutritional state can gate peripheral gustatory and olfactory sensory responses to affect behavior. Focusing primarily on recent work in C. elegans and Drosophila, I describe the neuromodulatory mechanisms that translate feeding state information into changes in chemosensory neuron response properties and behavioral output.

► Feeding state and food alter chemosensory behaviors. ► Chemosensory neuron response properties are altered by feeding/fasting. ► Feeding state information is transmitted via conserved neuromodulatory pathways.