title: Dorsal striatal dopamine, food preference and health perception in humans.
abstract: To date, few studies have explored the neurochemical mechanisms supporting individual differences in food preference in humans. Here we investigate how dorsal striatal dopamine, as measured by the positron emission tomography (PET) tracer [(18)F]fluorometatyrosine (FMT), correlates with food-related decision-making, as well as body mass index (BMI) in 16 healthy-weight to moderately obese individuals. We find that lower PET FMT dopamine synthesis binding potential correlates with higher BMI, greater preference for perceived "healthy" foods, but also greater healthiness ratings for food items. These findings further substantiate the role of dorsal striatal dopamine in food-related behaviors and shed light on the complexity of individual differences in food preference.
authors.affiliation: Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: Deanna L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.affiliation: Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America; Center for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aarts
authors.affiliation: Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America; Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America.
authors.forename: Linh C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Dang
authors.affiliation: Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: Stephanie M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Greer
authors.affiliation: Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Jagust
authors.affiliation: Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Esposito
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000378:metabolism*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated; C029999:fluoromethane; D004298:Dopamine