Abstract
Few studies have investigated the underlying neural substrates of food addiction (FA) in humans using a recognised assessment tool. In addition, no studies have investigated subregions of the amygdala (basolateral (BLA) and central amygdala), which have been linked to reward-seeking behaviours, susceptibility to weight gain, and promoting appetitive behaviours, in the context of FA. This pilot study aimed to explore the association between FA symptoms and activation in the BLA and central amygdala via functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), in response to visual food cues in fasted and fed states. Females (n = 12) aged 18–35 years completed two fMRI scans (fasted and fed) while viewing high-calorie food images and low-calorie food images. Food addiction symptoms were assessed using the Yale Food Addiction Scale. Associations between FA symptoms and activation of the BLA and central amygdala were tested using bilateral masks and small-volume correction procedures in multiple regression models, controlling for BMI. Participants were 24.1 ± 2.6 years, with mean BMI of 27.4 ± 5.0 kg/m2 and FA symptom score of 4.1 ± 2.2. A significant positive association was identified between FA symptoms and higher activation of the left BLA to high-calorie versus low-calorie foods in the fasted session, but not the fed session. There were no significant associations with the central amygdala in either session. This exploratory study provides pilot data to inform future studies investigating the neural mechanisms underlying FA.
Highlights
There is increasing scientific interest in the possible role of “food addiction” (FA) underlying particular patterns of overeating, dietary relapse and weight gain in vulnerable individuals.Neuroimaging techniques, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging, have provided insight into this phenomenon in humans
The central amygdala has been reported to have a role in increasing reward saliency, modulating food consumption and promoting appetitive behaviours in mice [19]. While these previous studies of the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and central amygdala were not conducted in FA populations these findings suggest that there is a need to study the subregions of the amygdala in relation to FA in different motivational states
The mean Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) symptom score for the group was 4.1 ± 2.2, with six participants classified as having a YFAS FA diagnosis
Summary
There is increasing scientific interest in the possible role of “food addiction” (FA) underlying particular patterns of overeating, dietary relapse and weight gain in vulnerable individuals. Neuroimaging techniques, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), have provided insight into this phenomenon in humans. Despite accumulating evidence supporting FA as a phenomenon in preclinical [2] and behavioural research [3], few studies have investigated the potential underlying neural substrates in humans. Many studies have used obesity as a proxy for addictive-like eating in lieu of a recognised assessment tool for FA, such as the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) [4]. Using obesity as a proxy for Nutrients 2019, 11, 1285; doi:10.3390/nu11061285 www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients
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