2016
Fuel not fun: Reinterpreting attenuated brain responses to reward in obesity
Kroemer NB, Small DM. Fuel not fun: Reinterpreting attenuated brain responses to reward in obesity. Physiology & Behavior 2016, 162: 37-45. PMID: 27085908, PMCID: PMC4971522, DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2016.04.020.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsFood-related stimuliBrain responsesReward-related learningReward sensitivityReward deficiencyReduced reward sensitivityPrimary food rewardReward receiptMilkshake receiptStriatal responsesReward deficitsFood rewardSubjective valueReinforcement learning frameworkRewardDopamine signalingFood anticipationDorsal striatumAnhedoniaAnticipatoryDopaminergic regionsStimuliConsummatory responsesAlternative viewLearning
2015
Basolateral Amygdala Response to Food Cues in the Absence of Hunger Is Associated with Weight Gain Susceptibility
Sun X, Kroemer NB, Veldhuizen MG, Babbs AE, de Araujo IE, Gitelman DR, Sherwin RS, Sinha R, Small DM. Basolateral Amygdala Response to Food Cues in the Absence of Hunger Is Associated with Weight Gain Susceptibility. Journal Of Neuroscience 2015, 35: 7964-7976. PMID: 25995480, PMCID: PMC4438134, DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3884-14.2015.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAbsence of hungerWeight changeBasolateral amygdalaLong-term weight changeLong-term weight gainWeight gain susceptibilityGustatory inputD2 receptor densityA1 allele carriersAmygdala responseSated subjectsGhrelin levelsInitial BMILateral hypothalamusHuman hypothalamusAllele carriersReceptor densityAmygdala pathwayHealthy individualsElicit eatingDopamine signalingConfer susceptibilityWeight gainDynamic causal modelingNonhomeostatic eating
2011
Youth at Risk for Obesity Show Greater Activation of Striatal and Somatosensory Regions to Food
Stice E, Yokum S, Burger KS, Epstein LH, Small DM. Youth at Risk for Obesity Show Greater Activation of Striatal and Somatosensory Regions to Food. Journal Of Neuroscience 2011, 31: 4360-4366. PMID: 21430137, PMCID: PMC3260083, DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.6604-10.2011.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNormal weight humansObese humansStriatal responsesFood intakeOrbitofrontal cortexDopamine signalingWeight gainInitial vulnerability factorsGenetic riskStriatal D2 receptorsMonetary rewardsNormal-weight adolescentsPalatable food intakeD2 receptor densityD2 receptorsHigh-risk youthParietal operculumReceptor densitySomatosensory regionsPalatable foodFoods contributesFrontal operculumReward circuitryReduced dopamineObesity