Food‐reward signalling in the suprachiasmatic clock

A daily palatable snack entrained behavioural rhythms of mice in constant darkness conditions.

• Food restriction increases motivation to obtain food, which may impact the timing of the circadian clock.
• Access to a palatable meal at the start of activity reduced light-induced delays in behaviour and Period gene expression in the SCN.
• Increased dopamine levels and Period gene expression in the forebrain were observed following access to the palatable snack.
• c-FOS activation in certain neurons suggests that the effects of palatable snacks on the SCN clock involve reward and arousal systems.
• The findings indicate that the master circadian clock is sensitive to motivational states linked to food intake.

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