Discuss “Experiment of the Week: Hunger hormone linked to learning disabilities”

For many of us, exam time is synonymous with binge-eating time. Well, apart from making you fat, this could also affect your learning. A recent study completed at the Yale University School of Medicine shows that you could actually learn better on an empty stomach.

The Yale study has shown that the hormone ghrelin has a direct, rapid, and powerful influence on the hippocampus, the part of the brain associated with learning and memory. Ghrelin, produced in the stomach, was previously associated with growth hormone release and appetite. It is released primarily from stomach epithelial cells when the stomach is empty, and it binds to receptors in several areas of the body.

The research team, led by Tamas L. Horvath, chair and associate professor...