Research paper
Johnson PM, Kenny PJ. Dopamine D2 receptors in addiction-like reward dysfunction and compulsive eating in obese rats. Nat Neurosci. 2010 May;13(5):635-641. doi:10.1038/nn.2519. Epub 2010 Mar 28. PMID: 20348917. PMCID: PMC2947358.
Why we cite it
The landmark experimental demonstration that overconsumption of palatable food triggers the same addiction-like neuroadaptive responses as drugs of abuse. Two headline findings: (1) rats with extended cafeteria diet access developed progressively worsening reward deficits with D2 receptor downregulation, identical to changes in human drug addicts; and (2) these rats continued eating despite foot shock — the behavioral hallmark of compulsive addiction. The lentivirus D2R knockdown established causation, not just correlation. Relevant to the project because it provides the neurobiological explanation for why some people genuinely cannot stop eating hyperpalatable foods through willpower alone.