Hedonic hyperphagia � eating for pleasure independent from hunger � is a phenomenon nearly everybody knows. Just imagine the attraction of chocolate, sweets or snack food like potato chips and the amount of these foods ingested without homeostatic need. In a feeding study with rats we tried to identify the active molecular compounds of potato chips associated with this phenomenon. Additionally, we mapped whole brain activity patterns in rats linked to the intake of crushed potato chips, a mixture of fat and carbohydrates and standard chow. Significant differences became obvious concerning the behavior of the animals and the activation of distinct brain structures dependent on the ingested food. Main differences could be discovered in brain areas involved in systems regulating reward and addiction, food intake, sleep and locomotor activity. Despite of the highly attractive ratio of the components fat and carbohydrates, these ingredients seem not to be the only trigger.

Everyday desire: Influence of snack food on whole brain activity patterns

245th National Meeting (2013)

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