Ghrelin is the only known peripheral orexigenic hormone and is secreted in times of stress and hunger. Ghrelin has been suggested to act as a survival hormone, facilitating metabolic and behavioral adaptation to environmental threats. It has been shown to be involved in the pathophysiology of addictive disorders, especially alcohol use disorder. To date much research has explored ghrelin’s effects on anxiety and depression, however much less is known on its effect on risk-taking, individual decision making, and impulsivity. This has important implications on disorders ranging from eating disorders to depression, addiction, and obesity. Only a few animals and human studies point to increased risk-taking and impulsivity after acute ghrelin exposure. Accumulating evidence also points to differential effects of ghrelin depending on, among other factors, acute vs. chronic exposure, sex, and feeding status.The goal of this Research Topic is to facilitate a better understanding of ghrelin’s effect on behavior, impulsivity, and risk-taking in both animals and humans. Special focus should be put on investigating the influence of the circumstances under which ghrelin effects are tested. These circumstances include whether individuals/animals were previously stressed or unstressed, feeding status, age, sex, and acute vs. chronic exposure. This is, up until now, not well understood and might in the future produce insights on underlying mechanisms in the pathophysiology of conditions ranging from eating disorders to obesity and substance and behavioral addictions.Experimental, interventional, observational, and imaging studies in both animals and humans are welcome. Comprehensive reviews of the theme are also specified in the range of this Research Topic. The focus should be placed on ghrelin’s effect on behavioral changes, decision-making, and risk-taking in the light of mental health and psychiatric disorders. Underlying neurobiological and functional mechanisms should be explored as well.
Ghrelin is the only known peripheral orexigenic hormone and is secreted in times of stress and hunger. Ghrelin has been suggested to act as a survival hormone, facilitating metabolic and behavioral adaptation to environmental threats. It has been shown to be involved in the pathophysiology of addictive disorders, especially alcohol use disorder. To date much research has explored ghrelin’s effects on anxiety and depression, however much less is known on its effect on risk-taking, individual decision making, and impulsivity. This has important implications on disorders ranging from eating disorders to depression, addiction, and obesity. Only a few animals and human studies point to increased risk-taking and impulsivity after acute ghrelin exposure. Accumulating evidence also points to differential effects of ghrelin depending on, among other factors, acute vs. chronic exposure, sex, and feeding status.The goal of this Research Topic is to facilitate a better understanding of ghrelin’s effect on behavior, impulsivity, and risk-taking in both animals and humans. Special focus should be put on investigating the influence of the circumstances under which ghrelin effects are tested. These circumstances include whether individuals/animals were previously stressed or unstressed, feeding status, age, sex, and acute vs. chronic exposure. This is, up until now, not well understood and might in the future produce insights on underlying mechanisms in the pathophysiology of conditions ranging from eating disorders to obesity and substance and behavioral addictions.Experimental, interventional, observational, and imaging studies in both animals and humans are welcome. Comprehensive reviews of the theme are also specified in the range of this Research Topic. The focus should be placed on ghrelin’s effect on behavioral changes, decision-making, and risk-taking in the light of mental health and psychiatric disorders. Underlying neurobiological and functional mechanisms should be explored as well.