Consumption of palatable food primes food approach behavior by rapidly increasing synaptic density in the VTA.

ABSTRACT: In an environment with easy access to highly palatable and energy-dense food, food-related cues drive food-seeking regardless of satiety, an effect that can lead to obesity. The ventral tegmental area (VTA) and its mesolimbic projections are critical structures involved in the learning of environmental cues used to predict motivationally relevant outcomes. Priming effects of food-related advertising and consumption of palatable food can drive food intake. However, the mechanism by which this effect occurs, and whether these priming effects last days after consumption, is unknown. Here, we demonstrate that short-term consumption of palatable food can prime future food approach behaviors and food intake. This effect is mediated by the strengthening of excitatory synaptic transmission onto do

SUBMITTER: Liu S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4780604 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature