Neurobiology of Nutrition Laboratory, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University System, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.
Proc Nutr Soc. 2012 Nov;71(4):478-87. doi: 10.1017/S0029665112000602. Epub 2012 Jul 17.
The objective of this non-systematic review of the literature is to highlight some of the neural systems and pathways that are affected by the various intake-promoting aspects of the modern food environment and explore potential modes of interaction between core systems such as hypothalamus and brainstem primarily receptive to internal signals of fuel availability and forebrain areas such as the cortex, amygdala and meso-corticolimbic dopamine system, primarily processing external signals. The modern lifestyle with its drastic changes in the way we eat and move puts pressure on the homoeostatic system responsible for the regulation of body weight, which has led to an increase in overweight and obesity. The power of food cues targeting susceptible emotions and cognitive brain functions, particularly of children and adolescents, is increasingly exploited by modern neuromarketing tools. Increased intake of energy-dense foods high in fat and sugar is not only adding more energy, but may also corrupt neural functions of brain systems involved in nutrient sensing as well as in hedonic, motivational and cognitive processing. It is concluded that only long-term prospective studies in human subjects and animal models with the capacity to demonstrate sustained over-eating and development of obesity are necessary to identify the critical environmental factors as well as the underlying neural systems involved. Insights from these studies and from modern neuromarketing research should be increasingly used to promote consumption of healthy foods.
本文对文献进行了非系统性回顾，旨在强调现代食品环境中促进摄入的各个方面所影响的一些神经系统和途径，并探讨核心系统（主要接收燃料供应内部信号的下丘脑和脑干等）与大脑皮层、杏仁核和中脑边缘多巴胺系统等前脑区域之间潜在的相互作用模式，这些前脑区域主要处理外部信号。现代生活方式在我们的饮食和运动方式上发生了巨大变化，这给负责调节体重的体内平衡系统带来了压力，导致超重和肥胖的人数增加。针对易受情绪和认知大脑功能影响的食物线索的力量，特别是针对儿童和青少年的力量，正被现代神经营销工具越来越多地利用。摄入高脂肪和高糖的高热量食物不仅会增加更多的能量，还可能破坏参与营养感知以及享乐、动机和认知处理的大脑系统的神经功能。结论是，只有在人类受试者和具有持续过度进食和肥胖发展能力的动物模型中进行长期前瞻性研究，才能确定关键的环境因素以及涉及的潜在神经系统。这些研究以及现代神经营销研究的结果应越来越多地用于促进健康食品的消费。
