Researchers have identified a specific circuit in the brain that alters food impulsivity, creating the possibility scientists can some day develop a treatment to address the problem of overeating.
The findings were published in the Nature Communications Journal.
Impulsivity, or responding without thinking about the consequences of an action, has been linked to excessive food intake, binge eating, weight gain and obesity, along with several psychiatric disorders including drug addiction and excessive gambling.
"There's underlying physiology in your brain that is regulating your capacity to say no to (impulsive eating).In experimental models, you can activate that circuitry and get a specific behavioural response."Emily Noble, Assistant Professor, University of Georgia, Lead Author