Nucleus accumbens response to food cues predicts subsequent snack consumption in women and increased body mass index in those with reduced self-control

Lawrence, Natalia; Hinton, Elanor C.; Parkinson, John A.; Lawrence, Andrew David

doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.06.070

Cited by 218 publications

(180 citation statements)

References 114 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

165

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…This finding, however, is consistent with our prior work in another pediatric population using an identical behavioral paradigm (17). Instead, the literature has demonstrated a relationship between ventral striatum activity and short-term measures of eating behavior [e.g., real-world food temptation (4), short-term weight gain (3), and snack consumption (29)]. Although these motivated behaviors (i.e., eating) may lead to obesity over time, this may not be reflected in our previous (17) and current studies because children have limited autonomy and their diets can be highly influenced by the foods that their adult caregivers provide and rules around food that their caregivers enforce (30).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Genetic risk for obesity predicts nucleus accumbens size and responsivity to real-world food cues

Rapuano

Zieselman

Kelley

et al. 2016

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Obesity is a major public health concern that involves an interaction between genetic susceptibility and exposure to environmental cues (e.g., food marketing); however, the mechanisms that link these factors and contribute to unhealthy eating are unclear. Using a well-known obesity risk polymorphism (FTO rs9939609) in a sample of 78 children (ages 9-12 y), we observed that children at risk for obesity exhibited stronger responses to food commercials in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) than children not at risk. Similarly, children at a higher genetic risk for obesity demonstrated larger NAcc volumes. Although a recessive model of this polymorphism best predicted body mass and adiposity, a dominant model was most predictive of NAcc size and responsivity to food cues. These findings suggest that children genetically at risk for obesity are predisposed to represent reward signals more strongly, which, in turn, may contribute to unhealthy eating behaviors later in life.T he relationship between genes and sensitivity to environmental cues is elusive, yet it is paramount to understanding the development of potentially maladaptive human behaviors. The rising prevalence of obesity is a major public health concern that has been attributed to various factors, such as genetic susceptibility (1), and increases in the availability and marketing of calorie-dense foods (2). However, little is known about how genetic predisposition to obesity influences sensitivity to real-world food cues and contributes to the development of unhealthy eating behaviors.Previous neuroimaging studies have demonstrated that responses to food cues in reward-related regions of the brain, such as the nucleus accumbens (NAcc), predict weight gain in adulthood (3) and giving in to food temptations in daily life (4). Furthermore, structural differences in NAcc volume have been positively associated with body mass index (BMI) in adults (5, 6). Because the development of the NAcc precedes the development of prefrontal control systems (7), this structure is suggested to play a key role in motivating and establishing unhealthy eating behaviors early in the lifespan. Importantly, genetic factors are a known contributor to brain development (8) and may influence risky behaviors during childhood and adolescence by biasing the early development of anatomical structures underlying reward-related brain function.In addition, the notion that genes contribute to obesity has recently gained much attention. More specifically, the fat-mass and obesity-associated (FTO) rs9939609 polymorphism has been strongly related to increased BMI and adiposity across the lifespan, and is suggested to influence food intake and food choice, rather than energy expenditure (9-11). Those with two high-risk "A" alleles (AA) are at an enhanced risk for obesity compared with those with two low-risk "T" alleles (TT) or those who are heterozygous (AT) for the FTO rs9939609 polymorphism. Although the FTO gene is highly expressed in the brain (1), the mechanism by which this gene promotes unhealthy...

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Genetic risk for obesity predicts nucleus accumbens size and responsivity to real-world food cues

Rapuano

Zieselman

Kelley

et al. 2016

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Due to its input from the limbic system as well as output and cytochemical similarity to the motor nuclei of the basal ganglia, the accumbens has been said to be the functional interface between the limbic and motor systems [78,130], suggesting that the accumbens is an important player in controlling the biological drives necessary for survival and reproduction. Indeed, studies have demonstrated that the NAc plays crucial roles in locomotion [131,132,133,134,135], learning (including both conditioned place preference [136,137] and avoidance [138,139]), impulsivity [140], risk-taking behaviors [141], feeding behavior [127] (in animals [142,143,144,145,146,147] and humans [148]), sexual motivation (in animals [149] and humans [150]), as well as incentive and reward [151,152,153,154], especially unpredictable reward [155]. …”

Section: Functionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Nucleus Accumbens: A Comprehensive Review

Salgado

Kaplitt²

2015

Stereotact Funct Neurosurg

398

289

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

There is increasing interest among functional neurosurgeons in the potential for novel therapies to impact upon diseases beyond movement disorders and pain. A target of increasing interest is the nucleus accumbens (NAc), which has long been studied as a key brain region mediating a variety of behaviors, including reward and satisfaction. As such, focal modulation of the biology of the NAc with deep brain stimulation or novel biological therapies such as gene therapy or cell transplantation could have a major impact upon disorders such as depression and drug addiction. In order to both develop appropriate therapies and then deliver them in an effective fashion, a thorough understanding of the biology, physiology, and anatomy of the NAc is critical. Here, we review the existing literature regarding several areas critical to the development of new therapies, including the known pharmacology, physiology, and connectivity of the NAc, as well as evidence supporting the potential for various NAc surgical therapies in animal models. We then review the relevant anatomy of the NAc, with particular attention to the surgical anatomy, imaging, and targeting necessary to facilitate a proper localization and delivery of new agents to this region. The NAc is a fascinating and potentially rich target for stereotactic neurosurgical intervention, and analysis of existing information regarding all aspects of this structure should help potentiate therapeutic advances and reduce complications from future studies of neurosurgical intervention in this region for a variety of disorders.

show abstract

“…6,7 Impaired behavioral inhibition (ie, impulsivity) might make it more difficult for children to resist the temptation of energy-dense food. 8,9 Impulsivity is generally defined as the tendency to control, think, and plan insufficiently. 10 Two aspects of impulsivity can be distinguished: insufficient inhibitory behavioral control and reward sensitivity or the inability to delay reward.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Impulsivity, “Advergames,” and Food Intake

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Impulsivity, "Advergames," and Food Intake WHAT'S KNOWN ON THIS SUBJECT: Previous studies have shown that food advertisements influence caloric intake among children. However, individual susceptibility to food advertisements has not been examined thoroughly. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS:This study examines the role of impulsivity in the effect of food advertisements. An advergame promoting snacks overruled refraining from eating, especially among impulsive children. The findings suggest that impulsivity plays an important role in susceptibility to food advertisements. abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have focused on the effect of food advertisements on the caloric intake of children. However, the role of individual susceptibility in this effect is unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the role of impulsivity in the effect of advergames that promote energy-dense snacks on children' s snack intake.METHODS: First, impulsivity scores were assessed with a computer task. Then a randomized between-subject design was conducted with 261 children aged 7 to 10 years who played an advergame promoting either energy-dense snacks or nonfood products. As an extra manipulation, half of the children in each condition were rewarded for refraining from eating, the other half were not. Children could eat freely while playing the game. Food intake was measured. The children then completed questionnaire measures, and were weighed and measured. RESULTS:Overall, playing an advergame containing food cues increased general caloric intake. Furthermore, rewarding children to refrain from eating decreased their caloric intake. Finally, rewarding impulsive children to refrain from eating had no influence when they were playing an advergame promoting energy-dense snacks, whereas it did lead to reduced intake among low impulsive children and children who played nonfood advergames. CONCLUSIONS:Playing an advergame promoting energy-dense snacks contributes to increased caloric intake in children. The advergame promoting energy-dense snacks overruled the inhibition task to refrain from eating among impulsive children, making it more difficult for them to refrain from eating. The findings suggest that impulsivity plays an important role in susceptibility to food advertisements. Pediatrics

show abstract

Nucleus accumbens response to food cues predicts subsequent snack consumption in women and increased body mass index in those with reduced self-control

Cited by 218 publications

References 114 publications

Genetic risk for obesity predicts nucleus accumbens size and responsivity to real-world food cues

Genetic risk for obesity predicts nucleus accumbens size and responsivity to real-world food cues

The Nucleus Accumbens: A Comprehensive Review

Impulsivity, “Advergames,” and Food Intake

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About