Altered dynamics between neural systems sub-serving decisions for unhealthy food.

Qinghua He,Bin Xie,Gui Xue,Antoine Bechara,Susan L Ames,Lin Xiao,Savio Wong

doi:10.3389/fnins.2014.00350

Abstract

Using BOLD functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) techniques, we examined the relationships between activities in the neural systems elicited by the decision stage of the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), and food choices of either vegetables or snacks high in fat and sugar. Twenty-three healthy normal weight adolescents and young adults, ranging in age from 14 to 21, were studied. Neural systems implicated in decision-making and inhibitory control were engaged by having participants perform the IGT during fMRI scanning. The Youth/Adolescent Questionnaire, a food frequency questionnaire, was used to obtain daily food choices. Higher consumption of vegetables correlated with higher activity in prefrontal cortical regions, namely the left superior frontal gyrus (SFG), and lower activity in sub-cortical regions, namely the right insular cortex. In contrast, higher consumption of fatty and sugary snacks correlated with lower activity in the prefrontal regions, combined with higher activity in the sub-cortical, insular cortex. These results provide preliminary support for our hypotheses that unhealthy food choices in real life are reflected by neuronal changes in key neural systems involved in habits, decision-making and self-control processes. These findings have implications for the creation of decision-making based intervention strategies that promote healthier eating.

Highlights

With an increase of abundant and accessible high-calorie foods, an important characteristic of human choices in food is the unhealthy consumption of high calorie foods
In the current study, Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) performance elicited neural activity in neural systems hypothesized to play key roles in complex decision-making: (1) neural regions belonging to the so-called “reflective system” concerned with impulse control and selfcontrol, namely the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC), the DLPFC, as well as the ACC in both hemispheres; (2) neural regions belonging to the so-called “impulsive system” concerned with reward and habit behaviors, namely the striatum in both hemispheres; and (3) neural systems implicated in the processing of interoceptive signals and their translation into what may subjectively become experienced as an urge, namely the insula in both hemispheres
Higher consumption of vegetables positively correlated with activity in the left superior frontal gyrus (SFG), but negatively correlated with activity in the right insular cortex

Summary

Introduction

With an increase of abundant and accessible high-calorie foods, an important characteristic of human choices in food is the unhealthy consumption of high calorie foods. Such choices can have long-term negative consequences, such as medical problems associated with overweight and obesity. One neural system is thought to mediate habitual behaviors that are elicited spontaneously or automatically. This neural system has been referred to as the “Impulsive System,”

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