Neural mechanisms - Miller's 'Fat Rat' Study and The Dual Control Model

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  • Created by: Ellie
  • Created on: 08-06-15 23:02

BIOLOGICAL EXPLANATIONS:

General points -

* The body has two biological systems for turning eating 'on' and 'off'

* The name given to keeping the body's internal state balanced is 'Homeostasis' - this is why we adjust physiological processes, such as hunger or thirst

MILLER'S 'FAT RAT' STUDY -

- Rat had a portion of it's brain removed (VMH)

- The VMH is related to the CONTROL of eating (think of 'M' for MODERATION)

- Once the VMH was removed, the rat ate twice it's normal body weight ( this is known as hyperphagia)

- Other rats had their LH removed

- The LH is related to feeding (think of 'L' for LUNCH)

- Once the Lh was removed, the rat stopped eating

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