2016
Effects of the modern food environment on striatal function, cognition and regulation of ingestive behavior
Burke MV, Small DM. Effects of the modern food environment on striatal function, cognition and regulation of ingestive behavior. Current Opinion In Behavioral Sciences 2016, 9: 97-105. PMID: 29619405, PMCID: PMC5879782, DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2016.02.036.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchFood cue reactivityCue reactivityWeight gain susceptibilityDorsal striatal dopamineEnergy-dense dietInhibitory controlModern food environmentChronic consumptionImpaired inhibitory controlStriatal dopamineStriatal functionStriatal circuitsAnimal studiesBody weightMetabolic diseasesDiet-induced adaptationsPalatable foodDense dietBrain functionIngestive behaviorFood environmentImpair inhibitory controlDietDeleterious influenceNegative outcomes
2014
The neural signature of satiation is associated with ghrelin response and triglyceride metabolism
Sun X, Veldhuizen MG, Wray AE, de Araujo IE, Sherwin RS, Sinha R, Small DM. The neural signature of satiation is associated with ghrelin response and triglyceride metabolism. Physiology & Behavior 2014, 136: 63-73. PMID: 24732416, PMCID: PMC4195817, DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.04.017.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPalatable foodMeal terminationBrain responsesAd libitum mealPost-prandial reductionMedial orbitofrontal cortexDorsolateral prefrontal cortexGhrelin responseAcute changesFree fatty acidsPeripheral signalsTriglyceride metabolismBrain regionsBrain circuitsOrbitofrontal cortexPrefrontal cortexAmount of foodGhrelinMidbrainMilkshakeTriglyceridesCortexFatty acidsEnergy storesGreater attenuation
2012
Midbrain response to milkshake correlates with ad libitum milkshake intake in the absence of hunger
Nolan-Poupart S, Veldhuizen MG, Geha P, Small DM. Midbrain response to milkshake correlates with ad libitum milkshake intake in the absence of hunger. Appetite 2012, 60: 168-174. PMID: 23064394, PMCID: PMC3526000, DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2012.09.032.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAbsence of hungerFunctional magnetic resonance imagingSubsequent intakeRatings of hungerPeriaqueductal gray regionMidbrain responsesMagnetic resonance imagingKey reward regionsPalatable milkshakeSignificant positive associationPalatable foodResonance imagingInsular responsesOrbitofrontal cortexNeural circuitsGreater intakeMilkshake consumptionIntakeReward regionsBrain responsesEnhanced responseMilkshakePositive associationMidbrainGray regionAcute stress potentiates brain response to milkshake as a function of body weight and chronic stress
Rudenga KJ, Sinha R, Small DM. Acute stress potentiates brain response to milkshake as a function of body weight and chronic stress. International Journal Of Obesity 2012, 37: 309-316. PMID: 22430303, PMCID: PMC3381866, DOI: 10.1038/ijo.2012.39.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBody mass indexFunctional magnetic resonance imagingChronic stressOrbitofrontal cortexRight amygdalaBody weightPalatable foodAcute stressBasal cortisol levelsBrain responsesAmygdala responseMagnetic resonance imagingStress-related eatingMilkshake receiptPalatable milkshakeObese womenOverweight womenMass indexRight amygdala responseOFC responsesPotentiates responsesCortisol levelsLeft amygdalaResonance imagingVentral striatum
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
2010
Genetically Determined Differences in Brain Response to a Primary Food Reward
Felsted JA, Ren X, Chouinard-Decorte F, Small DM. Genetically Determined Differences in Brain Response to a Primary Food Reward. Journal Of Neuroscience 2010, 30: 2428-2432. PMID: 20164326, PMCID: PMC2831082, DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.5483-09.2010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBrain responsesPrimary food rewardFunctional magnetic resonanceTaqIA A1 alleleOrbital frontal cortexReward driveIndividual differencesNeural responsesFuture weight gainFood rewardPalatable foodNeuroimaging techniquesPerceptual responsesBiological underpinningsIndividual factorsFrontal cortexImpulsivityDiminished dopamineSimilar ratingsFood reinforcementRewardSpecific associationNeurophysiologyMilkshakeBody mass index
2009
Individual differences in the neurophysiology of reward and the obesity epidemic
Small DM. Individual differences in the neurophysiology of reward and the obesity epidemic. International Journal Of Obesity 2009, 33: s44-s48. PMID: 19528979, PMCID: PMC2788336, DOI: 10.1038/ijo.2009.71.Peer-Reviewed Original Research