GABAergic basal forebrain projections to the periaqueductal gray promote food consumption, reward and predation

Abstract

Abstract Behaviors central to the procurement and consumption of food are among those most fundamental to survival, but their inappropriate expression can lead to overeating and obesity. Nevertheless, we have a poor understanding of circuits that promote feeding independent of physiological demand. Here we demonstrate that activation of basal forebrain (BF) GABAergic neurons results in consumption of food as well as non-food items in well-fed mice, and performance of fictive eating in the absence of ingestible materials. In addition, stimulation of these cells disrupts defensive threat responses and elicits reward-like motivational effects. Finally, BF GABAergic activity triggers skilled predatory attacks of live prey and prey-like objects, but not social targets. These effects were entirely recapitulated by selective stimulation of BF GABAergic projections to the periaqueductal gray (PAG). Our results outline a potent circuit mechanism for increased feeding through recruitment of distinct but synergistic behaviors, and add to growing evidence that PAG is an important integrator of feeding-related activity.