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Food cue-elicited brain potentials in obese and healthy-weight individuals.
ARTICLE IN PRESS Abstracts / Appetite 49 (2007) 272–341
Food cue-elicited brain potentials in obese and healthy-weight individuals I.M.T. NIJS, I.H.A. FRANKEN, P. MURIS.
Institute of Psychology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, P.O. Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands In western societies the abundant availability of rewarding food is believed to contribute considerably to the current obesity epidemic. Obese individuals are assumed to be particularly sensitive and reactive to environmental food cues. Food cue reactivity suggests enhanced processing of food stimuli in the brain. Electrophysiological indices of information processing are event-related potentials (ERP). As is demonstrated in addiction and psychopathology research, amplitudes of long-latency ERPs (P3 and Late Positive Potentials [LPP]) are modulated by the motivational significance of processed information: in cueexposure paradigms motivationally salient stimuli elicit larger ERP amplitudes than non-relevant stimuli. The present study investigated ERPs (P3, LPP, and an early ERP component between 150 and 300 ms) elicited by pictures of palatable foods and non-food control pictures in an obese (N=20, 4 males, BMI: 36.6976.47 kg/m2, age: 28.6576.59 yr) and normal-weight sample (N=20, 4 males; BMI: 22.6871.53 kg/m2; age: 28.657 6.08 yr). Overall, significantly enlarged ERP amplitudes were observed for food cues as compared to non-food cues at lateral parietal–occipital and lateral central–temporal electrode sites. Particularly parietal–occipital ERP amplitudes correlated positively with self-reported increase of food craving and physiological hunger during the exposure session. However, no differences between obese and normal-weight participants were observed. These findings demonstrate that food information is processed differently in the human brain as compared to non-food information, in a way that reflects the natural reinforcing value of food. 10.1016/j.appet.2007.03.147
Emotional Appetite Questionnaire: Construct validity and relationship with BMI L.J. NOLAN, L.B. HALPERIN,
A. GELIEBTER. Department of Psychology, Wagner College, 1 Campus Rd., Staten Island, NY 10301, NY, USA. New York Obesity Research Center, St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center and College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10025, USA The Emotional Appetite Questionnaire (EMAQ) is based on ratings of tendency to eat in response to both positive and negative emotions and situations. To provide construct convergent validity, the responses of 98 male and female college students to the EMAQ subscales were correlated with scores on the emotional subscale of the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ). Secondarily, EMAQ subscale scores were correlated with the restrained and external eating subscales of the DEBQ. We also correlated EMAQ scores with body mass index (BMI). Several significant relationships were found between EMAQ and DEBQ scores. Convergent validity was demonstrated by a significant positive relationship (r=.539, po.001) between the
317
combined negative emotions and situations scores of the EMAQ and the emotional eating DEBQ score that is largely based on negative emotions. Discriminant validity was demonstrated especially in the women by a negative relationship of EMAQ combined positive emotion (EMAQ-P) and situation scores (r= .247, p=.038) with the DEBQ emotional eating score in contrast to the positive correlation with combined negative scores (EMAQ-N) (r=629, po.001). Indeed, for the whole sample there was a significant negative correlation between EMAQ-P and EMAQ-N (r= .227, p=.024). The negative EMAQ score was also significantly positively correlated with BMI (r=.211, p=.039) replicating the finding by Geliebter and Aversa (2003) while the emotional eating score of the DEBQ was not (r=.051, p=.624). Thus, the EMAQ was shown to have construct validity—both convergent and discriminant, and the combined negative emotions and situations score EMAQ-N was significantly correlated with BMI. 10.1016/j.appet.2007.03.148
Binge eating, appetitive responsiveness, and disinhibition: Relation to asymmetrical activation in the human brain
C.O. OCHNER, M.R. LOWE, J. KOUNIOS, D. GREEN, J. VAN STEENBURGH. Drexel University, Philadelphia, (PA), USA. Asymmetrical activation in the frontal cortex has been related to affect and volitional behavior. Literature has demonstrated a relationship between frontal asymmetry and restrained eating in normal weight individuals. Research has also shown that normal weight restrained eaters and overweight binge eaters experience similar frequencies of emotional distress and eating. This study tested whether binge eating in overweight individuals would be associated with frontal asymmetry. Thirty overweight participants were recruited from a weight maintenance study. Participants were assessed using the Binge-Eating Scale (BES), Power of Food Scale (PFS), Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ), and Mood and Anxiety Symptoms Questionnaire. Asymmetrical activation was assessed using electroencephalogram recordings. Pearson correlations were used to examine the relationships between the BES, PFS, TFEQ, and asymmetrical activation. Results revealed a relationship between binge eating and left-sided asymmetry in the frontocentral (p=0.030) and frontotemporal (p=0.040) regions, however, this relationship was not specific to frontal regions as prior literature suggests. Significant correlations between binge eating and left-sided asymmetry were also found in the centroparietal (p=0.036), parietal (p=0.008), and parietoocciptal (p=0.027) regions. These results suggest activation of deep brain sources, such as in the medial temporal lobe. Appetitive responsivity and Disinhibition were correlated with left-sided asymmetry in frontal, central, and temporal regions. PFS and Disinhibition scores were also correlated with right-sided parietal asymmetry. Correlations remained significant when controlling for affect. Results encourage future research to unify models of asymmetrical activation and further explore its relationship with ingestive behavior. 10.1016/j.appet.2007.03.149
Food cue-elicited brain potentials in obese and healthy-weight individuals I.M.T. NIJS, I.H.A. FRANKEN, P. MURIS.
Institute of Psychology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, P.O. Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands In western societies the abundant availability of rewarding food is believed to contribute considerably to the current obesity epidemic. Obese individuals are assumed to be particularly sensitive and reactive to environmental food cues. Food cue reactivity suggests enhanced processing of food stimuli in the brain. Electrophysiological indices of information processing are event-related potentials (ERP). As is demonstrated in addiction and psychopathology research, amplitudes of long-latency ERPs (P3 and Late Positive Potentials [LPP]) are modulated by the motivational significance of processed information: in cueexposure paradigms motivationally salient stimuli elicit larger ERP amplitudes than non-relevant stimuli. The present study investigated ERPs (P3, LPP, and an early ERP component between 150 and 300 ms) elicited by pictures of palatable foods and non-food control pictures in an obese (N=20, 4 males, BMI: 36.6976.47 kg/m2, age: 28.6576.59 yr) and normal-weight sample (N=20, 4 males; BMI: 22.6871.53 kg/m2; age: 28.657 6.08 yr). Overall, significantly enlarged ERP amplitudes were observed for food cues as compared to non-food cues at lateral parietal–occipital and lateral central–temporal electrode sites. Particularly parietal–occipital ERP amplitudes correlated positively with self-reported increase of food craving and physiological hunger during the exposure session. However, no differences between obese and normal-weight participants were observed. These findings demonstrate that food information is processed differently in the human brain as compared to non-food information, in a way that reflects the natural reinforcing value of food. 10.1016/j.appet.2007.03.147
Emotional Appetite Questionnaire: Construct validity and relationship with BMI L.J. NOLAN, L.B. HALPERIN,
A. GELIEBTER. Department of Psychology, Wagner College, 1 Campus Rd., Staten Island, NY 10301, NY, USA. New York Obesity Research Center, St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center and College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10025, USA The Emotional Appetite Questionnaire (EMAQ) is based on ratings of tendency to eat in response to both positive and negative emotions and situations. To provide construct convergent validity, the responses of 98 male and female college students to the EMAQ subscales were correlated with scores on the emotional subscale of the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ). Secondarily, EMAQ subscale scores were correlated with the restrained and external eating subscales of the DEBQ. We also correlated EMAQ scores with body mass index (BMI). Several significant relationships were found between EMAQ and DEBQ scores. Convergent validity was demonstrated by a significant positive relationship (r=.539, po.001) between the
317
combined negative emotions and situations scores of the EMAQ and the emotional eating DEBQ score that is largely based on negative emotions. Discriminant validity was demonstrated especially in the women by a negative relationship of EMAQ combined positive emotion (EMAQ-P) and situation scores (r= .247, p=.038) with the DEBQ emotional eating score in contrast to the positive correlation with combined negative scores (EMAQ-N) (r=629, po.001). Indeed, for the whole sample there was a significant negative correlation between EMAQ-P and EMAQ-N (r= .227, p=.024). The negative EMAQ score was also significantly positively correlated with BMI (r=.211, p=.039) replicating the finding by Geliebter and Aversa (2003) while the emotional eating score of the DEBQ was not (r=.051, p=.624). Thus, the EMAQ was shown to have construct validity—both convergent and discriminant, and the combined negative emotions and situations score EMAQ-N was significantly correlated with BMI. 10.1016/j.appet.2007.03.148
Binge eating, appetitive responsiveness, and disinhibition: Relation to asymmetrical activation in the human brain
C.O. OCHNER, M.R. LOWE, J. KOUNIOS, D. GREEN, J. VAN STEENBURGH. Drexel University, Philadelphia, (PA), USA. Asymmetrical activation in the frontal cortex has been related to affect and volitional behavior. Literature has demonstrated a relationship between frontal asymmetry and restrained eating in normal weight individuals. Research has also shown that normal weight restrained eaters and overweight binge eaters experience similar frequencies of emotional distress and eating. This study tested whether binge eating in overweight individuals would be associated with frontal asymmetry. Thirty overweight participants were recruited from a weight maintenance study. Participants were assessed using the Binge-Eating Scale (BES), Power of Food Scale (PFS), Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ), and Mood and Anxiety Symptoms Questionnaire. Asymmetrical activation was assessed using electroencephalogram recordings. Pearson correlations were used to examine the relationships between the BES, PFS, TFEQ, and asymmetrical activation. Results revealed a relationship between binge eating and left-sided asymmetry in the frontocentral (p=0.030) and frontotemporal (p=0.040) regions, however, this relationship was not specific to frontal regions as prior literature suggests. Significant correlations between binge eating and left-sided asymmetry were also found in the centroparietal (p=0.036), parietal (p=0.008), and parietoocciptal (p=0.027) regions. These results suggest activation of deep brain sources, such as in the medial temporal lobe. Appetitive responsivity and Disinhibition were correlated with left-sided asymmetry in frontal, central, and temporal regions. PFS and Disinhibition scores were also correlated with right-sided parietal asymmetry. Correlations remained significant when controlling for affect. Results encourage future research to unify models of asymmetrical activation and further explore its relationship with ingestive behavior. 10.1016/j.appet.2007.03.149