Altered brain correlates of response inhibition and error processing in females with obesity and sweet food addiction: A functional magnetic imaging study (2017)

Obes Res Clin Pract. 2017 May 25. pii: S1871-403X(17)30044-3. doi: 10.1016/j.orcp.2017.04.011.

Hsu JS1, Wang PW2, Ko CH3, Hsieh TJ4, Chen CY1, Yen JY5.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impulsivity and brain correlates of response inhibition and error processing among females with obesity and sweet food addiction (O & SFA).

METHODS:

We evaluated the response inhibition and error processing by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in subjects with O & SFA and controls. Twenty females with O & SFA and 20 controls were recruited. All subjects performed the event-related designed Go/No-go task under fMRI and completed questionnaires related to food craving and impulsivity.

RESULTS:

The O & SFA group exhibited a higher score for impulsivity than did the control group. The O & SFA also exhibited lower brain activation when processing response inhibition over the right rolandic operculum and thalamus than controls. Both O & SFA and control groups exhibited activation of the insula and caudate during error processing. The activation over the left insula, precuneus, and bilateral putamen were higher in the subjects with O & SFA than for those in the control group.

CONCLUSION:

Our results support the fact that the fronto-striatal network is involved in response inhibition, and the caudate and insula contributes to error processing. Furthermore, women with O & SFA have impaired rolandic operculum when processing response inhibition and have greater insular and putamen activation in maintain their error processing function.

KEYWORDS:

Error processing; Impulsivity; Insula; Obesity; Response inhibition; Sweet food addiction

PMID: 28552670

DOI: 10.1016/j.orcp.2017.04.011