Research paper
Rada P, Avena NM, Hoebel BG. Daily bingeing on sugar repeatedly releases dopamine in the accumbens shell. Neuroscience. 2005;134:737-744. doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2005.04.043
Why we cite it
A rat microdialysis study. Rats given sugar solution and chow for 12 hours a day, after 12 hours without food, for 21 days, increased their daily sugar intake about threefold over the period. They released dopamine in the accumbens shell each time they drank on days 1, 2 and 21, while three control groups showed a fading response by day 21. Their total daily sugar intake was not significantly different from that of rats with sugar available all day. The experimental group had six rats.