What happens if there is a lesion to the lateral hypothalamus?

• A. Increased hunger
• B. Weight gain due to increased eating
• C. No effect on hunger
• D. Not hungry

Answer: (D)

The lateral hypothalamus acts as the hunger/feeding drive region. When it’s damaged, the drive to eat diminishes, leading to reduced food intake and weight loss. So a lesion would make you not hungry, which matches the option describing not hungry. In contrast, stimulating the lateral hypothalamus increases feeding, and lesions in nearby regions like the ventromedial hypothalamus tend to produce overeating.