AUTHOR=Wang Keyan , Guo Wenbo , Xu Jiaxiang , Kuang Yingjie , Chen Xiqi 

TITLE=Role of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis in feeding

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Nutrition

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1598703

DOI=10.3389/fnut.2025.1598703

ISSN=2296-861X

ABSTRACT=As an important part of the limbic system of the forebrain, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) plays a key role in stress response, emotion regulation, and motivational behavior. Recent studies have demonstrated that BNST plays a crucial role in the pathological process of appetite regulation, food selection, and eating disorders by integrating metabolic signals, reward feedback, and stress input. This article systematically reviews the anatomical subdivision, neural loop characteristics, and multimodal mechanisms of the BNST in food intake regulation; discusses its association with obesity, anorexia nervosa, and other diseases; and explores potential therapeutic strategies targeting the BNST.