Consumption of palatable food primes food approach behavior by rapidly increasing synaptic density in the VTA
Abstract
Consumption of palatable food or food-related advertising can prime increased food intake, potentially leading to overeating. We show that short-term exposure to palatable foods induces long-lasting synaptic plasticity in mesolimbic dopamine neurons. Furthermore, short-term exposure to sweetened high-fat food can drive food approach behaviors and consumption days after the initial exposure. Suppressing excitatory synaptic transmission in the ventral tegmental area can reverse increased food approach behaviors and consumption. Targeting this circuit with brain-delivered insulin may provide a strategy to suppress food cravings.
- Publication:
-
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science
- Pub Date:
- March 2016
- DOI:
- 10.1073/pnas.1515724113
- Bibcode:
- 2016PNAS..113.2520L