Brain Has Sixth Sense For Calories

The latest issue of the journal Neuron carries news of a “sixth sense” that scientists say can detect calories in food without the involvement of our regular taste sensors.

In the experiments, the researchers genetically altered mice to remove their sweet taste receptor cells, making them “sweet-blind.” The research team then performed behavioral tests in which they compared normal and sweet-blind mice in their preference for sugar solutions (sucrose) and those containing the non-caloric sweetener sucralose. The researchers found that the sweet-blind mice showed a preference for calorie-containing sugar water that did not depend on their ability to taste.

In analyzing the brains of the sweet-blind mice, the researchers showed that the animals’ reward circuitry was switched on by caloric intake, independent of the animals’ ability to taste. Those analyses showed that levels of the brain chemical dopamine, known to be central to activating the reward circuitry, increased with caloric intake. Also, electrophysiological studies showed that neurons in the food-reward region, called the nucleus accumbens, were activated by caloric intake, independent of taste.

Interestingly, the researchers found that a preference for sucrose over sucralose developed only after ten minutes of a one-hour feeding session and that neurons in the reward region also responded with the same delay.

“We showed that dopamine-ventral striatum reward systems, previously associated with the detection and assignment of reward value to palatable compounds, respond to the caloric value of sucrose in the absence of taste receptor signaling,” the researchers noted. “Thus, these brain pathways do not exclusively encode the sensory-related hedonic impact of foods, but might also perform previously unidentified functions that include the detection of gastrointestinal and metabolic signals.”

The finding that the brain’s reward system is switched on by this “sixth sense” machinery could have implications for understanding the causes of obesity. For example, the findings suggest why high-fructose corn syrup, widely used as a sweetener in foods, might contribute to obesity. It may be that fructose produces stronger activation of the reward system and that removing high-fructose corn syrup as a sweetener will curb some desire for these products.

Related:
Savoring The Flavoring
Babies First Feeds May Establish Favorite Flavors
Humans: Designed For Fatness

Source: Cell Press

, ,

Comments are closed.

HEAVEN

HEAVEN "LIKE NO TASTE ON EARTH" 25 HEAVENLY VANILLA CORONA CIGAR BOX - GVC

$12.00



Kashmir Pre-Rolled Classic Tubes Clean and Smooth Taste Coral Pack of 200 picture

Kashmir Pre-Rolled Classic Tubes Clean and Smooth Taste Coral Pack of 200

$14.49



Nacho Libre Taste of the Glory Morale Patch Military Tactical Army USA  Funny picture

Nacho Libre Taste of the Glory Morale Patch Military Tactical Army USA Funny

$8.49



BUDWEISER BUD LIGHT Choose Taste Subway BANNER POSTER 4FT picture

BUDWEISER BUD LIGHT Choose Taste Subway BANNER POSTER 4FT

$11.49



Twice Tzuyu Official Photocards picture

Twice Tzuyu Official Photocards

$5.00



Jeongyeon Twice Taste of Love Photocards Official PCs + POBs US Seller picture

Jeongyeon Twice Taste of Love Photocards Official PCs + POBs US Seller

$5.00



2022 Topps GPK Taste Buds S2 You Pick Garbage Pail Kids Breweries picture

2022 Topps GPK Taste Buds S2 You Pick Garbage Pail Kids Breweries

$4.99



Twice Nayeon Official Photocards picture

Twice Nayeon Official Photocards

$5.00



Original 1940-50’s Coca-Cola Fishtail Sign - Sign of Good Taste MCA Sign Co 466 picture

Original 1940-50’s Coca-Cola Fishtail Sign - Sign of Good Taste MCA Sign Co 466

$699.00



Taste So Good Recipe & Incase of Emerg. Motorcycle Funny Biker Jacket/Vest Patch picture

Taste So Good Recipe & Incase of Emerg. Motorcycle Funny Biker Jacket/Vest Patch

$11.92



Powered by WordPress. Designed by WooThemes