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A groundbreaking study conducted by Northwestern Medicine has unearthed a significant connection between two key brain regions that could play a pivotal role in regulating eating behavior and potentially influence body weight. Published in the Journal of Neuroscience, the research highlights how structural connectivity between the olfactory tubercle and the periaqueductal gray (PAG) in the human brain correlates with Body Mass Index (BMI).
The olfactory tubercle, part of the brain’s reward system sensitive to food odors, was found to exhibit varying degrees of connectivity with the PAG, a region implicated in motivated behaviors and response to negative stimuli. According to the study, individuals with weaker connections between these areas tended to have higher BMIs. This suggests that the strength of these neural pathways may influence how individuals perceive food rewards and regulate their eating habits.
Dr. Guangyu Zhou, research assistant professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and corresponding author of the study, explained, “The desire to eat is closely tied to the appeal of food odors, which are more enticing when one is hungry than when full. However, disruptions in the brain circuits governing this relationship could lead to persistent food reward signaling even after satiety, potentially contributing to higher BMI.”
The study utilized MRI data from the Human Connectome Project, a comprehensive NIH initiative mapping brain connectivity. This data allowed researchers to identify correlations between BMI and the strength of the olfactory tubercle-PAG circuitry across a diverse sample. Subsequent validation in an independent MRI dataset further supported their findings.
Senior author Dr. Christina Zelano, associate professor of neurology at Feinberg, emphasized the study’s implications for future research and clinical applications. “Understanding these neural mechanisms is crucial for developing targeted interventions to address overeating and associated health challenges,” she noted.
While the study underscores the critical role of brain networks in regulating eating behaviors, the exact mechanisms linking these brain regions and their modulation of food perception remain subjects for further investigation. The findings open new avenues for exploring treatments aimed at enhancing satiety signals and mitigating excessive food intake.
This research was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, highlighting its significance in advancing our understanding of neurobiological factors influencing obesity and related conditions.
Reference:
Zhou G, Lane G, Kahnt T, Zelano C. Structural connectivity between olfactory tubercle and ventrolateral periaqueductal gray implicated in human feeding behavior. J Neurosci. 2024 May 15. DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2342-23.2024
