Andrea N. Suarez

The vagus nerve promotes memory via septo-hippocampal acetylcholine: Implications for obesity-induced cognitive dysfunction

This study shows that vagus nerve-mediated acetylcholine release in the dorsal hippocampus supports memory function, and its disruption contributes to obesity-induced cognitive impairments.

Ventral hippocampus-lateral septum circuitry promotes foraging-related memory

This study identifies a neural circuit involving the ventral hippocampus and lateral septum that selectively mediates appetitive spatial memory for food or water locations.

Gut microbial taxa elevated by dietary sugar disrupt memory function

This study shows that early life sugar consumption alters gut microbiota and impairs hippocampal-dependent memory in rats, with specific bacterial taxa linked to these effects.

Central oxytocin signaling inhibits food reward-motivated behaviors and VTA dopamine responses to food-predictive cues in male rats

This study shows that central oxytocin reduces food-seeking behavior and VTA dopamine responses to food cues in male rats, but not postingestive reward value encoding.

Ghrelin signaling regulates feeding behavior, metabolism, and memory through the vagus nerve

This study shows that ghrelin signaling through vagal afferent neurons affects feeding, metabolism, and memory by targeting GHSR on these neurons.