Taste, olfactory and food texture reward processing in the brain and obesity

Abstract

Complementary neuronal recordings and functional neuroimaging in humans, show that the primary taste cortex in the anterior insula provides separate and combined representations of the taste, temperature and texture (including fat texture) of food in the mouth independently of hunger and thus of reward value and pleasantness. One synapse on, in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), these sensory inputs are for some neurons combined by learning with olfactory and visual inputs, and these neurons encode food reward in that they only respond to food when hungry, and in that activations correlate with subjective pleasantness. Cognitive factors, including word-level descriptions, and attention, modulate the representation of the reward value of food in the OFC. Further, there are individual differences in the representation of the reward value of food in the OFC. It is argued that overeating and obesity are related in many cases to an increased reward value of the sensory inputs produced by foods, and their modulation by cognition and attention, which overrides existing satiety signals. It is proposed that control of all rather than one or several of these factors that influence food reward and eating may be important in the prevention and treatment of overeating and obesity.

Prediction error and somatosensory insula activation in women recovered from anorexia nervosa

“…These regions are central to food reward processing and meal termination. 8 Whether neurotransmitter functions are altered in reward processing in individuals with anorexia nervosa has been less explored.…”

L’expérience sensorielle et nutritionnelle des parents et leur état métabolique orientent le comportement alimentaire de leur descendance

“…Le plaisir sensoriel induit par les aliments est une motivation puissante de l'ingestion qui peut surpasser les signaux homéostatiques [15]. Cette composante hédonique met en jeu des régions cérébrales impliquées dans les comportements de recherche de nourriture et les addictions [16]. Deux composantes psychologiques de la récom-pense sont sensibles à l'environnement nutritionnel : la satisfaction et la perception du plaisir (le liking), et la motivation consciente ou inconsciente à le reproduire (le wanting).…”

Food Addiction: Cause or Consequence of Obesity

“…The somato sensory cortex, location of oral, lip, and tongue sensation, is activated in relationship to pleasure from the taste of food, and may lead to overeating as a result. Taste sensation primarily reinforces food consumption [8], with obese subjects more sensitive to the rewarding properties of food related to palatability [5].…”

“…The somato sensory cortex, location of oral, lip, and tongue sensation, is activated in relationship to pleasure from the taste of food, and may lead to overeating as a result. Taste sensation primarily reinforces food consumption [8], with obese subjects more sensitive to the rewarding properties of food related to palatability [5].Food craving is an intense desire to eat particular foods that is much greater than normal feelings of hunger [9,10]. Specific foods such as sugar and fat have distinct tastes and provide rewarding sensations.…”