Research paper
Rangel A. Regulation of dietary choice by the decision-making circuitry. Nat Neurosci. 2013 Dec;16(12):1717-24. doi:10.1038/nn.3561. PMID: 24270272; PMCID: PMC4053793.
Why we cite it
A review integrating two historically separate fields — decision neuroscience and homeostatic feeding regulation — into a unified framework for understanding dietary choice. Proposes that metabolic and endocrine factors (leptin, ghrelin) exert their influence by modulating the operations of the same decision-making circuitry used for all choices, rather than operating as a separate “homeostatic feeding” system. Argues that dietary choice is harder than other consumer decisions because feeding is the only domain that simultaneously involves all three behavioral controllers (Pavlovian, habitual, goal-directed), dedicated homeostatic mechanisms, dedicated Pavlovian controllers, dedicated learning systems, and powerful hedonic circuitry activation. Published in Nature Neuroscience.
About the author
Antonio Rangel, PhD — Bing Professor of Neuroscience, Behavioral Biology, and Economics at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). BS in Economics from Caltech (1993), MS and PhD in Economics from Harvard (1996, 1998). Previously at Stanford (1998–2006). President of the Society for Neuroeconomics (2009–10). NSF CAREER Award (2002), NOMIS Distinguished Scientist and Scholar Award (2019). Directs the Rangel Neuroeconomics Laboratory at Caltech. Works on the computational and neurobiological basis of value-based decision-making, including vmPFC as the common value signal and dlPFC’s role in dietary self-control.