Research paper
Volkow ND, Wang GJ, Baler RD. Reward, dopamine and the control of food intake: implications for obesity. Trends Cogn Sci. 2011;15(1):37-46. doi:10.1016/j.tics.2010.11.001. PMID: 21109477. PMCID: PMC3124340.
Why we cite it
Review in *Trends in Cognitive Sciences* presenting a four-circuit model of obesity paralleling addiction neuroscience: (i) reward-saliency, (ii) motivation-drive, (iii) learning-conditioning, and (iv) inhibitory control-executive function. Key argument: resisting the urge to eat requires proper functioning of top-down neuronal circuits that oppose conditioned responses predicting reward from eating. When these circuits are impaired — as demonstrated by reduced striatal D2 receptors and decreased prefrontal metabolic activity in obese individuals — food cues trigger powerful dopamine-driven responses that override conscious intentions. Proposes the reward mismatch hypothesis: enhanced anticipatory response to food cues combined with blunted reward from actual consumption drives compulsive overeating. Referenced in companion 432 for the neuroscience of why one bite triggers desire for more.
DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2010.11.001 · PubMed 21109477 · Publisher