Brain research in rats indicates that a starving rat will show no interest in food if part of the brain’s __________ is destroyed.

The hypothalamus helps regulate hunger and other basic drives. If part of it is destroyed, a rat may stop responding to hunger and show little interest in food, even when starving. The thalamus mainly relays sensory information, the cerebellum coordinates movement, and the prefrontal cortex supports planning and decision-making.

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