The Effects of Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation to the Left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex on Executive Function, Food Cravings, and Snack Food Consumption

Abstract

These results support the contention that EF strength, as modulated by DLPFC activity, is causally associated with effective dietary self-control.

Neuroimaging, neuromodulation, and population health: the neuroscience of chronic disease prevention

“…157 The findings revealed that cTBS attenuated neural activity-assessed via EEG-commonly linked to executive control, and also caused increased food consumption when a consumption opportunity was subsequently presented. These findings were consistent with those of a recent meta-analysis 156,158 examining all published and unpublished studies using NIBS methods to modulate dlPFC activity (both excitatory and inhibitory); this aggregate statistical summary revealed that neuromodulation produces changes in cravings in the theorized directions, with inhibitory stimulation reliably producing amplification 159,160 and excitatory stimulation resulting in attenuation [161][162][163][164] of the craving response to food. Actual food consumption also mirrors the above effects, with experimental studies largely showing moderate-sized effects on appetitive food consumption following dlPFC modulation.…”

Cognitive effects of a 30-min aerobic exercise bout on adults with overweight/obesity and type 2 diabetes

“…A recent meta-analysis identified reliable decrements associated with T2DM that were relatively uniform across EF measurement approaches and conceptual subtypes of EF (8) Impaired EF among the T2DM population is potentially problematic because of the role of EF integrity in the consistent implementation, assessment and adaptation behaviours necessary in diabetes self-care (20)(21)(22)(23)(24). For example, EF has been implicated in the ability to perform healthy dietary behaviours, consistently follow physical activity recommendations, adhere to medication regimens and maintain weight loss (21,(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36), all of which are required for effective management of T2DM (37). For this reason, effective disease management may rely partially on intact executive control capacities.…”

Executive Function in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes

“…However, these results have not been uniformly observed and a number of longitudinal studies have observed no difference in the rate of EF decline as a function of T2DM status (39,48,51). In fact, it is possible that impaired EF may act as a risk factor for the development of T2DM because of the importance of EF for control and monitoring of T2DM risk behaviors (e.g., dietary self-restraint and physical activity adherence) and the development of obesity over the life span (87)(88)(89). This idea receives some support from a finding of lower EF among newly diagnosed diabetic patients (46); however, as mentioned previously, metabolic changes occurring before T2DM diagnosis could also be involved in this observed effect.…”

“…For example, Munshi et al (93) found a significant association between objective, but not self-report, measures of EF and HbA1c, such that a 1-point increase in EF score was associated with a 0.22-unit lower HbA1c. EF has also been associated with a variety of health behaviors; specifically, lower EF (even within the range of normal EF) has been linked to worse adherence to medical treatment (97-100), physical activity nonadherence (88,101), and worse dietary control (87,89,(102)(103)(104)(105)(106), all of which are important to adequate T2DM management. Given the importance of proper diabetes management and glucose regulation for disease outcomes, EF may be of particular importance in this population.…”