biostudies-literatureFuchs BANational Center for Advancing Translational SciencesNCATS NIH HHSNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesNIDDK NIH HHSNational Institutes of Health107289https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10948287biostudies-literatureUnknown196Larger portions of food elicit greater intake than smaller portions of food, particularly when foods are high in energy density (kcal/g; ED). The neural mechanisms underlying this effect remain unclear. The present study used fMRI to assess brain activation to food (higher-ED, lower-ED) and non-food (office supplies) images presented in larger and smaller (i.e., age-appropriate) amounts in 61, 7-8-year-olds (29 male, 32 female) without obesity. Larger amounts of food increased activation in bilateral visual and right parahippocampal areas compared to smaller amounts; greater activation to food amount (larger > smaller) in this cluster was associated with smaller increases in food intake as portions increased. Activation to amount (larger > smaller) was stronger for food than office supplies in primary and secondary visual areas, but, for office supplies only, extended into bilateral parahippocampus, inferior parietal cortex, and additional visual areas (e.g., V7). Activation was greater for higher-vs. lower-ED food images in ventromedial prefrontal cortex for both larger and smaller amounts of food; however, this activation extended into left lateral orbital frontal cortex for smaller amounts only. Activation to food cues did not differ by familial risk for obesity. These results highlight potentially distinct neural pathways for encoding food energy content and quantity.AppetiteDoes 'portion size' matter? Brain responses to food and non-food cues presented in varying amounts.PMC10948287R01 DK110060UL1TR000127UL1 TR002014TR002015UL1 TR000127DK110060R01DK126050F31 DK131868F32 DK122669KL2 TR002015DK131868R01 DK126050DK122669-01Geier CFRolls BJWilson SJFuchs BAKeller KLPearce ALRose EJfalseDoes 'portion size' matter? Brain responses to food and non-food cues presented in varying amounts.Larger portions of food elicit greater intake than smaller portions of food, particularly when foods are high in energy density (kcal/g; ED). The neural mechanisms underlying this effect remain unclear. The present study used fMRI to assess brain activation to food (higher-ED, lower-ED) and non-food (office supplies) images presented in larger and smaller (i.e., age-appropriate) amounts in 61, 7-8-year-olds (29 male, 32 female) without obesity. Larger amounts of food increased activation in bilateral visual and right parahippocampal areas compared to smaller amounts; greater activation to food amount (larger > smaller) in this cluster was associated with smaller increases in food intake as portions increased. Activation to amount (larger > smaller) was stronger for food than office supplies in primary and secondary visual areas, but, for office supplies only, extended into bilateral parahippocampus, inferior parietal cortex, and additional visual areas (e.g., V7). Activation was greater for higher-vs. lower-ED food images in ventromedial prefrontal cortex for both larger and smaller amounts of food; however, this activation extended into left lateral orbital frontal cortex for smaller amounts only. Activation to food cues did not differ by familial risk for obesity. These results highlight potentially distinct neural pathways for encoding food energy content and quantity.2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 May2026-06-02T20:58:05.296Z2025-06-25T03:06:21.452ZS-EPMC109482873842330010.1016/j.appet.2024.107289