<p>Check out this question on biology.stackexchange: <a href="https://biology.stackexchange.com/questions/5090/do-omnivore-mammals-vary-food-preferences-based-on-dietary-needs">Do omnivore mammals vary food preferences based on dietary needs?</a></p>

<p>The answers in that question mention that experiments on Rats and Birds determined that there's an internal <strong>chemosensor, the anterior piriform cortex (APC)</strong> within bird and rat brains that senses lack of Indispensible Amino Acids (IAA). Animals show aversion to foods that lack IAA in as short as 20-30 minutes. </p>

<p>There's another example listed that mentions that being sodium deficient makes animals like salt more. Their preference for salty taste increases.</p>

<p>I don't know if these findings apply to humans though. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-12-12T04:15:14.507Z
Hm... that seems like it would explain it. Do you have any ideas on foods eaten together, or multiple courses in the same meal? Maybe just a process of elimination after eating the same thing several times?
Jacob
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-12-12T03:11:10.117Z
2012-12-12T03:11:10.117Z
2017-04-13T12:48:14.127Z
Alex Stone
<p>I remember that at some point on House, M.D., one of the characters mentioned that her patient craved milk because it contained some chemical he/she needed. How does the brain figure out what chemicals it can get from what foods, and by extension what to crave? I know one craves very specific foods, but I eat a lot of foods per meal so I don't see how the body can connect something to its composition.</p>

<decision-making>
How does the brain know what to crave?
Jacob
# How does the brain know what to crave?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-12-12)

I remember that at some point on House, M.D., one of the characters mentioned that her patient craved milk because it contained some chemical he/she needed. How does the brain figure out what chemicals it can get from what foods, and by extension what to crave? I know one craves very specific foods, but I eat a lot of foods per meal so I don't see how the body can connect something to its composition.

**Tags:** decision-making


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2012-12-12. Score: 8 | Accepted answer

Check out this question on biology.stackexchange: [Do omnivore mammals vary food preferences based on dietary needs?](https://biology.stackexchange.com/questions/5090/do-omnivore-mammals-vary-food-preferences-based-on-dietary-needs)

The answers in that question mention that experiments on Rats and Birds determined that there's an internal **chemosensor, the anterior piriform cortex (APC)** within bird and rat brains that senses lack of Indispensible Amino Acids (IAA). Animals show aversion to foods that lack IAA in as short as 20-30 minutes.

There's another example listed that mentions that being sodium deficient makes animals like salt more. Their preference for salty taste increases.

I don't know if these findings apply to humans though.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Hm... that seems like it would explain it. Do you have any ideas on foods eaten together, or multiple courses in the same meal? Maybe just a process of elimination after eating the same thing several times?  

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