Serotonin is an important brain neurotransmitter involved in the regulation of many functions, including mood and appetite. As with all neurotransmitters, it exerts its effects by binding to specific receptors and then changing brain function. A key challenge in neuroscience is to understand the distinct roles that different neurotransmitter receptors play in influencing our behaviour.

This lecture will explore actions of serotonin that affect different aspects of feeding, including our feelings of satiety and the way in which environmental cues may arouse hunger. It will also discuss how such studies can suggest new approaches to the pharmacological treatment of obesity and describe some of the pitfalls that arise in translating preclinica.