Researchers illuminate the complexity of the human hypothalamus

How often do you think about your hypothalamus? Chances are that you never do. As compared to the rest of our brain, it is tiny—just the size of an almond. Yet it is our body’s master control, regulating a myriad of functions including body temperature, circadian rhythm, sleep, blood pressure and blood volume, stress responses, hunger and satiety, arousal, and lactation. Until recently, our understanding of the hypothalamus at cellular resolution came from animal studies.