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The reality of “food porn”: Larger brain responses to food‐related cues than to erotic images predict cue‐induced eating
Author(s) -
Versace Francesco,
Frank David W.,
Stevens Elise M.,
Deweese Menton M.,
Guindani Michele,
Schembre Susan M.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
psychophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.661
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1469-8986
pISSN - 0048-5772
DOI - 10.1111/psyp.13309
Subject(s) - psychology , temptation , cue reactivity , vulnerability (computing) , reactivity (psychology) , neuropsychology , developmental psychology , sensory cue , cognitive psychology , social psychology , neuroscience , cognition , addiction , craving , medicine , alternative medicine , computer security , pathology , computer science
While some individuals can defy the lure of temptation, many others find appetizing food irresistible. The goal of this study was to investigate the neuropsychological mechanisms that increase individuals' vulnerability to cue‐induced eating. Using ERPs, a direct measure of brain activity, we showed that individuals with larger late positive potentials in response to food‐related cues than to erotic images are more susceptible to cue‐induced eating and, in the presence of a palatable food option, eat more than twice as much as individuals with the opposite brain reactivity profile. By highlighting the presence of individual brain reactivity profiles associated with susceptibility to cue‐induced eating, these findings contribute to the understanding of the neurobiological basis of vulnerability to obesity.