The lateral hypothalamic area is a loosely organised zone on each side of the hypothalamus, crossed by the medial forebrain bundle. It contains the orexin (hypocretin) neurons that keep us awake and melanin-concentrating hormone neurons, and it promotes hunger and motivated behaviour.
| Location | Lateral part of the hypothalamus, lateral to the fornix, extending from the preoptic area to the midbrain tegmentum |
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| Blood Supply | Perforating branches of the posterior communicating and posterior cerebral arteries |
Stabilises wakefulness, drives feeding and thirst, and supports reward-seeking and motivated behaviour.
Loss of orexin neurons in the lateral hypothalamus causes narcolepsy type 1, with daytime sleepiness and cataplexy, and low orexin in the cerebrospinal fluid confirms the diagnosis. Orexin receptor antagonists are used as sleeping medicines. Damage to this area in animals causes refusal to eat and drink.
An autoimmune-associated loss of orexin neurons causing excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy (sudden loss of muscle tone with emotion) and disturbed night sleep.
Loss of appetite and weight from lesions of the lateral hypothalamus, rarely from tumours in this area.
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