Avena et al. 2008

Research paper

Avena NM, Rada P, Hoebel BG. Evidence for sugar addiction: behavioral and neurochemical effects of intermittent, excessive sugar intake. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews. 2008;32(1):20-39. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2007.04.019

Why we cite it

Review of the Princeton lab's own rat model studies demonstrating four addiction-like components with intermittent sugar access: bingeing, withdrawal, craving, and cross-sensitization. Foundational paper establishing that intermittent (not ad libitum) sugar access produces neurochemical and behavioral patterns paralleling drug addiction. One of the most heavily referenced citations in the library — supports ksa01-03 and five companions. Also serves as the target of the cho06 critique (Ziauddeen & Fletcher 2013).