title: Sexually dimorphic functional connectivity in response to high vs. low energy-dense food cues in obese humans: an fMRI study.
abstract: Sexually-dimorphic behavioral and biological aspects of human eating have been described. Using psychophysiological interaction (PPI) analysis, we investigated sex-based differences in functional connectivity with a key emotion-processing region (amygdala, AMG) and a key reward-processing area (ventral striatum, VS) in response to high vs. low energy-dense (ED) food images using blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in obese persons in fasted and fed states. When fed, in response to high vs. low-ED food cues, obese men (vs. women) had greater functional connectivity with AMG in right subgenual anterior cingulate, whereas obese women had greater functional connectivity with AMG in left angular gyrus and right primary motor areas. In addition, when fed, AMG functional connectivity with pre/post-central gyrus was more associated with BMI in women (vs. men). When fasted, obese men (vs. women) had greater functional connectivity with AMG in bilateral supplementary frontal and primary motor areas, left precuneus, and right cuneus, whereas obese women had greater functional connectivity with AMG in left inferior frontal gyrus, right thalamus, and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex. When fed, greater functional connectivity with VS was observed in men in bilateral supplementary and primary motor areas, left postcentral gyrus, and left precuneus. These sex-based differences in functional connectivity in response to visual food cues may help partly explain differential eating behavior, pathology prevalence, and outcomes in men and women.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA; Department of Medicine, New York Obesity Nutrition Research Center, Mount Sinai St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, New York NY, USA; Department of Medicine -Endocrinology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: da2458@columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Deniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Atalayer
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; fMRI Research Lab, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: spiropan@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Spiro P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Pantazatos
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, New York Obesity Nutrition Research Center, Mount Sinai St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, New York NY, USA. Electronic address: cg2571@columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Charlisa D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, New York Obesity Nutrition Research Center, Mount Sinai St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, New York NY, USA. Electronic address: haleymcouatt@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Haley
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: McOuatt
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, New York Obesity Nutrition Research Center, Mount Sinai St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, New York NY, USA. Electronic address: lmpuma83@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Puma
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA; Department of Medicine, New York Obesity Nutrition Research Center, Mount Sinai St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, New York NY, USA. Electronic address: nerys.astbury@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nerys M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Astbury
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA; Department of Medicine, New York Obesity Nutrition Research Center, Mount Sinai St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, New York NY, USA; Department of Psychology, Touro College, New York, NY, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: ag58@columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Geliebter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000679:Amygdala / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012201:Reward; D012737:Sex Factors; D066328:Ventral Striatum / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Food cues; Gender; Neural connectivity; Obese; PPI; fMRI