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2006-6-7
Scientists from the UK Medical Research Council have recently found a compelling reason for overeating: blame it on the brain. This is the first neurobiological evidence researchers have uncovered to explain why some people seem unable to resist the temptation of food.
According to The Guardian, previous studies have shown that individuals with higher reward sensitivity experience stronger cravings for food and are more prone to being overweight. The recent study sheds light on how this relationship manifests in the brain.
Led by John Beaver, scientists asked 12 male and female participants to view images of highly palatable food (chocolate cake), bland food (broccoli), and disgusting food (rotten meat), while analyzing their brain activity using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The study found that when viewing images of delicious food, individuals with higher reward sensitivity exhibited twice the level of activity in five key brain regions associated with motivation and reward compared to those with lower reward sensitivity.
This research not only provides an explanation for why some people are extremely sensitive to food but also helps explain the effectiveness of food advertising. Dr. Beaver stated, "This is particularly useful for understanding the rapid increase in obesity, as people today are constantly bombarded with images of tempting foods through TV ads, vending machines, and product packaging."
The researchers also believe that these findings could contribute to the study of other addictive behaviors, such as alcoholism and drug abuse, as well as obsessive-compulsive disorders.
Source: http://www. takungpao. com/ news/ 06/ 06/ 07/ GY- 576245. htm
Brain Determines Appetite Size
Scientists from the UK Medical Research Council have recently found a compelling reason for overeating: blame it on the brain. This is the first neurobiological evidence researchers have uncovered to explain why some people seem unable to resist the temptation of food.
According to The Guardian, previous studies have shown that individuals with higher reward sensitivity experience stronger cravings for food and are more prone to being overweight. The recent study sheds light on how this relationship manifests in the brain.
Led by John Beaver, scientists asked 12 male and female participants to view images of highly palatable food (chocolate cake), bland food (broccoli), and disgusting food (rotten meat), while analyzing their brain activity using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The study found that when viewing images of delicious food, individuals with higher reward sensitivity exhibited twice the level of activity in five key brain regions associated with motivation and reward compared to those with lower reward sensitivity.
This research not only provides an explanation for why some people are extremely sensitive to food but also helps explain the effectiveness of food advertising. Dr. Beaver stated, "This is particularly useful for understanding the rapid increase in obesity, as people today are constantly bombarded with images of tempting foods through TV ads, vending machines, and product packaging."
The researchers also believe that these findings could contribute to the study of other addictive behaviors, such as alcoholism and drug abuse, as well as obsessive-compulsive disorders.
Source: http://www. takungpao. com/ news/ 06/ 06/ 07/ GY- 576245. htm