title: Brain imaging in the context of food perception and eating.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Eating behavior depends heavily on brain function. In recent years, brain imaging has proved to be a powerful tool to elucidate brain function and brain structure in the context of eating. In this review, we summarize recent findings in the fast growing body of literature in the field and provide an overview of technical aspects as well as the basic brain mechanisms identified with imaging. Furthermore, we highlight findings linking neural processing of eating-related stimuli with obesity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The consumption of food is based on a complex interplay between homeostatic and hedonic mechanisms. Several hormones influence brain activity to regulate food intake and interact with the brain's reward circuitry, which is partly mediated by dopamine signaling. Additionally, it was shown that food stimuli trigger cognitive control mechanisms that incorporate internal goals into food choice. The brain mechanisms observed in this context are strongly influenced by genetic factors, sex and personality traits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, a complex picture arises from brain-imaging findings, because a multitude of factors influence human food choice. Although several key mechanisms have been identified, there is no comprehensive model that is able to explain the behavioral observations to date. Especially a careful characterization of patients according to genotypes and phenotypes could help to better understand the current and future findings in neuroimaging studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany. mhollmann@cbs.mpg.de
authors.forename: Maurice
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hollmann
authors.forename: Burkhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pleger
authors.forename: Arno
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Villringer
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Horstmann
mesh_terms: D001069:Appetite Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D003071:Cognition; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D059907:Functional Neuroimaging / Q000379:methods*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D009434:Neural Pathways; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D012201:Reward; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D014796:Visual Perception