title: Amodal brain activation and functional connectivity in response to high-energy-density food cues in obesity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The obesogenic environment is pervasive, yet only some people become obese. The aim was to investigate whether obese individuals show differential neural responses to visual and auditory food cues, independent of cue modality.
  
  
  METHODS
  Obese (BMI 29-41, n = 10) and lean (BMI 20-24, n = 10) females underwent fMRI scanning during presentation of auditory (spoken word) and visual (photograph) cues representing high-energy-density (ED) and low-ED foods. The effect of obesity on whole-brain activation, and on functional connectivity with the midbrain/VTA, was examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Obese compared with lean women showed greater modality-independent activation of the midbrain/VTA and putamen in response to high-ED (vs. low-ED) cues, as well as relatively greater functional connectivity between the midbrain/VTA and cerebellum (P < 0.05 corrected).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Heightened modality-independent responses to food cues within the midbrain/VTA and putamen, and altered functional connectivity between the midbrain/VTA and cerebellum, could contribute to excessive food intake in obese individuals.
authors.affiliation: Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carnell
authors.forename: Leora
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Benson
authors.forename: Spiro P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Pantazatos
authors.forename: Joy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hirsch
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Geliebter
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D003463:Cues; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D013851:Thinness / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats
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