Erynn L Christensen1, Ian H Harding2,3, Katharina Voigt1,2, Trevor T-J Chong1, Antonio Verdejo-Garcia4. 1. School of Psychological Sciences and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. 2. Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. 3. Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. 4. School of Psychological Sciences and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. antonio.verdejo@monash.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/ OBJECTIVES: Obesity is associated with unhealthy food choices. Food selection is driven by the subjective valuation of available options, and the perceived and actual rewards accompanying consumption. These cognitive operations are mediated by brain regions including the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), and ventral striatum (vStr). This study investigated the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and functional activations in the vmPFC, dACC, and vStr during food selection and consumption. SUBJECTS/ METHODS: After overnight fasting, 26 individuals (BMI: 18-40 kg/m2) performed a food choice task while being scanned with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Each trial involved selecting one beverage from a pair of presented options, followed by delivery of a 3 mL aliquot of the selected option using an MR-compatible gustometer. We also tracked subjective preference for each beverage throughout the experiment. RESULTS: During food choice, individuals with greater BMI had less activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex when selecting a high-value option and less vmPFC activation upon its consumption. Independent of BMI, during food choice the dACC and anterior insula elicited higher activation when a less preferred beverage was selected. Activation of the dACC and a broader frontoparietal network was also observed when deciding between options more similar in value. During consumption, receipt of a more preferred beverage was associated with greater vmPFC response, and attenuation of the dACC. CONCLUSIONS: An individual's preference for a food option modulates the brain activity associated with choosing and consuming it. The relationship between food preference and underlying brain activity is altered in obesity, with reduced engagement of cognition-related regions when presented with a highly valued option, but a blunted response in reward-related regions upon consumption.
BACKGROUND/ OBJECTIVES: Obesity is associated with unhealthy food choices. Food selection is driven by the subjective valuation of available options, and the perceived and actual rewards accompanying consumption. These cognitive operations are mediated by brain regions including the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), and ventral striatum (vStr). This study investigated the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and functional activations in the vmPFC, dACC, and vStr during food selection and consumption. SUBJECTS/ METHODS: After overnight fasting, 26 individuals (BMI: 18-40 kg/m2) performed a food choice task while being scanned with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Each trial involved selecting one beverage from a pair of presented options, followed by delivery of a 3 mL aliquot of the selected option using an MR-compatible gustometer. We also tracked subjective preference for each beverage throughout the experiment. RESULTS: During food choice, individuals with greater BMI had less activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex when selecting a high-value option and less vmPFC activation upon its consumption. Independent of BMI, during food choice the dACC and anterior insula elicited higher activation when a less preferred beverage was selected. Activation of the dACC and a broader frontoparietal network was also observed when deciding between options more similar in value. During consumption, receipt of a more preferred beverage was associated with greater vmPFC response, and attenuation of the dACC. CONCLUSIONS: An individual's preference for a food option modulates the brain activity associated with choosing and consuming it. The relationship between food preference and underlying brain activity is altered in obesity, with reduced engagement of cognition-related regions when presented with a highly valued option, but a blunted response in reward-related regions upon consumption.
Authors: Katja Mériau; Isabell Wartenburger; Philipp Kazzer; Kristin Prehn; Arno Villringer; Elke van der Meer; Hauke R Heekeren Journal: Brain Cogn Date: 2008-07-15 Impact factor: 2.310
Authors: Eric Stice; Dianne P Figlewicz; Blake A Gosnell; Allen S Levine; Wayne E Pratt Journal: Neurosci Biobehav Rev Date: 2012-12-10 Impact factor: 8.989
Authors: D Val-Laillet; E Aarts; B Weber; M Ferrari; V Quaresima; L E Stoeckel; M Alonso-Alonso; M Audette; C H Malbert; E Stice Journal: Neuroimage Clin Date: 2015-03-24 Impact factor: 4.881
Authors: Laura E Martin; Laura M Holsen; Rebecca J Chambers; Amanda S Bruce; William M Brooks; Jennifer R Zarcone; Merlin G Butler; Cary R Savage Journal: Obesity (Silver Spring) Date: 2009-07-23 Impact factor: 5.002