Individual Differences in Reward Drive Predict Neural Responses to Images of Food

TLDR

A fronto–striatal–amygdala–midbrain network is implicated in food reward, but sensitivity to reward varies across individuals, with high trait levels linked to stronger cravings, overweight, and eating disorders. Using fMRI, the study correlated Behavioral Activation Scale scores with activation to appetizing food images in that network. The results show substantial personality‑linked variability in neural responses to food cues, offering insight into neurobiological factors that may underlie vulnerability to hyperphagic obesity and other eating problems.

Abstract

A network of interconnected brain regions, including orbitofrontal, ventral striatal, amygdala, and midbrain areas, has been widely implicated in a number of aspects of food reward. However, in humans, sensitivity to reward can vary significantly from one person to the next. Individuals high in this trait experience more frequent and intense food cravings and are more likely to be overweight or develop eating disorders associated with excessive food intake. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we report that individual variation in trait reward sensitivity (as measured by the Behavioral Activation Scale) is highly correlated with activation to images of appetizing foods (e.g., chocolate cake, pizza) in a fronto–striatal–amygdala–midbrain network. Our findings demonstrate that there is considerable personality-linked variability in the neural response to food cues in healthy participants and provide important insight into the neurobiological factors underlying vulnerability to certain eating problems (e.g., hyperphagic obesity).