Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Progressive-ratio Responding for Palatable High-fat and High-sugar Food in Mice
Published on: May 3, 2012
Excessive appetitive arousal in Prader-Willi syndrome
E C Hinton1, A R Isles, N M Williams
1Wales Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff CF103AT, UK. hintone@cardiff.ac.uk
Abstract:
This study focused on genetic and behavioural aspects of one important component of the motivation to eat - how appetitive arousal is elicited through the presentation of food-associated stimuli. Individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome, a genetic disorder associated with hyperphagia, and control participants completed a computerised response task in the presence of motivational stimuli. In controls, appetitive arousal was specific to particular stimuli. In contrast, individuals with PWS showed a non-specific pattern of arousal. Over-activation of the anticipatory motivation system may be one consequence of the genetic disorder in PWS.
Related Concept Videos
Regulation of Food Intake
Binge Eating Disorders
Optimal Arousal Theory
Inverted U-Shaped Performance Curve
The...
Anorexia Nervosa
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
Conditioned Taste Aversion
A notable characteristic of conditioned taste aversion is that it often requires only a single exposure...
Bulimia Nervosa

