Anticipatory physiological regulation in feeding biology: Cephalic phase responses

Abstract

Anticipatory physiological regulation is an adaptive strategy that enables animals to respond faster to physiologic and metabolic challenges. The cephalic phase responses are anticipatory responses that prepare animals to digest, absorb and metabolize nutrients. They enable the sensory aspects of the food to interact with the metabolic state of the animal to influence feeding behavior. The anticipatory digestive secretions and metabolic adjustments in response to food cues are key adaptations that affect digestive and metabolic efficiency and aid in controlling the resulting elevation of metabolic fuels in the blood. Cephalic phase responses enable digestion, metabolism and appetite to be regulated in a coordinated fashion. These responses have significant effects on meal size. For example, if the cephalic phase insulin response is blocked the result is poor glucose control and smaller meals. Cephalic phase responses also are linked to motivation to feed, and may play a more direct role in regulating meal size beyond the permissive one of ameliorating negative consequences of feeding. For example, the orexigenic peptide ghrelin appears to display a cephalic phase response, rising before expected meal times. This anticipatory ghrelin response increases appetite; interestingly it also enhances fat absorption, linking appetite with digestion and metabolism.

Taste of Fat: A Sixth Taste Modality?

“…3 and 4) Dialogue between the "emotional" and "metabolic" brain leading to the decision making at the basis of eating behavior, including food choice. gestion and absorption of nutrients (162). For instance, an oral stimulation with sweet solutions triggers a rapid, albeit modest, increase in insulinemia in absence of any ingestion or of a glycemic variation in rodents (16), and also likely in humans (163).…”

Physiological parameters governing the action of pancreatic lipase

“…This acetylcholine release stimulates muscarinic M 3 receptors, which in turn triggers the intracellular cascades driving zymogen granule exocytosis. Cholinergic stimuli will occur within cephalic, gastric and intestinal phases of digestion (33) . Pancreatic lipase appears to lose catalytic activity below pH 5.…”

Effect of Insulin Sensitivity on Corticolimbic Responses to Food Picture in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

“…The cephalic response refers to a host of physiological responses to the presentation of food cues (visual, olfactory, and taste), including increased heart rate, salivation, insulin secretion, and ghrelin secretion (25)(26)(27)(28)(29). We postulate that differences in insulin signaling during the cephalic response to food pictures may be a contributing factor.…”