Publications

High HPA-axis activation disrupts the link between liking and wanting with liking and wanting related brain signaling

Type:  Journal
Year:  2012
Author(s): 
Born, J.M
Martens, M.J.I
Rutters, F
Lemmens, S.G.T
Goebel, R
Westerterp-Plantenga, M.S.
Source:  Physiology & Behavior 105, 321 - 324

Background: Eating behavior changes under stress, i.e. during high HPA-axis activation. Aim: Assessment of effects of high versus low HPA-axis activation on liking and wanting related brain signaling in relevant regions. Methods: 15 female subjects (21.5±0.4 years, BMI=22.2±0.4) completed fMRI scans on 2 days, in a fasted as well as a satiated condition on each day. The days were sorted by HPA-axis activation, resulting in two sufficiently separated HPA-axis states which were statistically confirmed (pb.05). During scans, subjects rated liking and wanting for food images; wanting indicated food choice for the subsequent meal. Energy-intake, hunger and fullness were additionally recorded. Results: Hunger changed significantly over the meal (pb.001). Energy intake was lower during the second meal (pb.001). Behavioral wanting was lower after breakfast (pb.01), behavioral liking did not change. During low HPA-activation, liking task related signaling (TRS) pre-meal in the anterior insula predicted behavioral liking, wanting TRS in the anterior insula, nucleus accumbens and thalamus predicted behavioral wanting. During high HPA-activation, these relationships were not present pre-meal, but post-meal behavioral liking was predicted in the nucleus accumbens and wanting in the caudate. Conclusion: High HPA-axis activation disrupted and redirected the connection of behavioral liking/wanting with the specifically associated brain signaling in relevant regions.