A medullary centre for lapping in mice

It has long been known that orofacial movements for feeding can be triggered, coordinated, and often rhythmically organized at the level of the brainstem, without input from higher centers. We uncover two nuclei that can organize the movements for ingesting fluids in mice. These neuronal groups, IRt(Phox2b) and Peri5(Atoh1), are marked by expression of the pan-autonomic homeobox gene Phox2b and are located, respectively, in the intermediate reticular formation of the medulla and around the motor nucleus of the trigeminal nerve. They are premotor to all jaw-opening and tongue muscles. Stimulation of either, in awake animals, opens the jaw, while IRt(Phox2b) alone also protracts the tongue. Moreover, stationary stimulation of IRt(Phox2b) entrains a rhythmic alternation of tongue protraction and retraction, synchronized with jaw opening and closing, that mimics lapping. Finally, fiber photometric recordings show that IRt(Phox2b) is active during volitional lapping. Our study identifies one of the subcortical nuclei underpinning a stereotyped feeding behavior.