A newly published study from the University of 蓝莓视频 shows that when activity in a specific part of the brain is suppressed, our desire for high-calorie foods increases.
The investigators found that when they temporarily decreased activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex 鈥 a brain region responsible for self-control 鈥 participants evaluated high-calorie snacks more positively, paid more attention to appealing images of such foods, and reported stronger urges to eat them than usual.聽
鈥淲e used a technique called transcranial magnetic stimulation to temporarily suppress the operation of a part of the brain that is involved in inhibition, known as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex,鈥 said Peter Hall, professor of Public Health and Health Systems and co-author of the study. 鈥淭his resulted in increased attention to high-calorie food images, as well as stronger cravings for and more consumption of such foods when given an opportunity to sample them.鈥澛
The study involved 28 young adult females who reported frequent cravings for high-calorie foods but were otherwise healthy. Eighty-nine percent of the participants consumed more food after real suppressive stimulation than after a placebo stimulation
鈥淪everal lifestyle factors affect the function of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex,鈥 said Cassandra Lowe, lead author of the study and a聽PhD graduate from 蓝莓视频鈥檚 School of Public Health and Health Systems. 鈥淔or example, aerobic exercise has been shown to enhance it, while lack of sleep and stress can impair it 鈥 so there may be a link between these lifestyle factors and overeating via their impacts on the brain.鈥
""聽appears聽in the journal聽NeuroImage聽with U蓝莓视频 co-authors Richard Staines in Kinesiology and Felicia Manocchio from the School of Public Health and Health Systems.