The reality of “food porn”: Larger brain responses to food‐related cues than to erotic images predict cue‐induced eating

• DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13309
• Publication Date: 2018-12-17T05:48:11Z
• Authors: Francesco Versace; David W. Frank; Elise M. Stevens; Menton M. Deweese; Michele Guindani; Susan M. Schembre
• Keywords: sign tracking; Adult; Male; Biomedical and clinical sciences; Endophenotypes; Eating Disorders; Biological Psychology; 150; Medical and Health Sciences; Young Adult; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; 2.3 Psychological; Erotica; Psychology; 2.1 Biological and endogenous factors; Humans; Obesity; Aetiology; incentive salience; Evoked Potentials; Nutrition; Aged; Biomedical and Clinical Sciences; Psychology and Cognitive Sciences; Neurosciences; Experimental Psychology; Electroencephalography; Original Articles; Feeding Behavior; ERPs; Biological Sciences; Middle Aged; Overweight; endophenotypes; Brain Disorders; Biological sciences; Food; late positive potential; Neurological; Female; Disease Susceptibility; social and economic factors; Cues; cue reactivity

While some individuals can defy the lure of temptation, many others find appetizing food irresistible. The goal this study was to investigate neuropsychological mechanisms that increase individuals' vulnerability cue-induced eating. Using ERPs, a direct measure brain activity, we showed with larger late positive potentials in response food-related cues than erotic images are more susceptible eating and, presence palatable option, eat twice as much opposite reactivity profile. By highlighting individual profiles associated susceptibility eating, these findings contribute understanding neurobiological basis obesity.