Food Reward Processing in the Human Brain

Integration of Homeostatic Signaling and Food Reward Processing in the Human Brain

The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of different metabolic states and hormonal satiety signalling on responses in neural reward networks.

Given the rapid development of obesity world-wide, a better understanding of the interaction between the encoding of food reward in mesocorticolimbic reward pathways and homeostatic energy regulation is of paramount importance for the development of new treatment strategies. Healthy participants will undergo functional magnetic resonance imaging while performing a task distinguishing between the anticipation and the receipt of either food or monetary reward. Every participant will be scanned twice in a counterbalanced fashion, both during a state of hunger (after 24-hours fasting) and satiety. Blood samples will be collected to assess hormonal satiety signalling. We hope to provide new insights into the neurobiological underpinnings of motivational processing and hedonic evaluation of food reward.

Inclusion Criteria:

• BMI <25 kg/m² and >18.5 kg/m²
• no lifetime or current medical illness that could potentially affect appetite or body weight
• right-handedness
• normal or corrected-to-normal vision

Exclusion Criteria:

• history of head injury or surgery
• history of neurological disorder
• severe psychiatric disorder (psychosis, bipolar disorder, substance abuse)
• smoking
• borderline personality disorder
• current psychotropic medication
• inability to undergo fMRI scanning (e.g. metallic implants, claustrophobia, Pacemakers)
• pregnancy