Neural Mechanisms of Food Decision-Making in Children.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-2020

Identifier

DOI: 10.1007/s13668-020-00321-5

Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The goal of the current paper is to review the literature on the neural and behavioral factors involved in food decision-making in youth.

RECENT FINDINGS: Recent neuroimaging studies that employ passive viewing paradigms have found that exposure to food-related cues activate reward, motor planning, and attentional salience signals in children. Greater activations of reward signals and/or lower activations of control signals are associated with overeating and weight gain. Neuroimaging studies with decision-making paradigms have found the reward network in the brain activates during food choices, while control network activates less strongly. Findings suggest that exposure to food cues activates reward/valuation network, but activation of control network tends to be relatively weaker in children. Hedonic aspects of foods are predominantly considered in children's food choices, and their dietary self-control is not matured yet. The increased activation in reward network and the decreased activation in control network are associated with risk of developing obesity.

Journal Title

Curr Nutr Rep

Volume

9

Issue

3

First Page

236

Last Page

250

Keywords

Brain development; Children; Food decisions; Self-control; Value-based decision-making; fMRI

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