Intermittent feeding alters sensitivity to changes in reward value.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Behavioral Science
• Physiology

Background:

• Understanding the impact of irregular eating patterns on behavior is crucial.
• Binge-like feeding and intermittent access to food can alter physiological and behavioral responses.
• The effects on goal-directed actions and satiety are not fully elucidated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how repeated cycles of food restriction and refeeding affect goal-directed food-related behaviors.
• To examine the influence of intermittent feeding on sensory-specific satiety.
• To compare the effects of intermittent feeding with continuous food restriction.

Main Methods:

• Rats were trained on instrumental tasks for distinct food rewards.
• Subjects underwent 30-day cycles of food restriction and refeeding or continuous restriction.
• Goal-directed control was assessed via outcome devaluation, and sensory-specific satiety was measured.

Main Results:

• Rats with a history of intermittent feeding failed to show devaluation of a previously consumed food reward.
• All rats demonstrated sensory-specific satiety when foods were presented concurrently.
• Sensory-specific satiety was impaired when foods were offered sequentially in intermittently fed rats.

Conclusions:

• Intermittent feeding patterns, akin to calorically dense diets, can impair goal-directed actions.
• History of intermittent feeding disrupts the ability to reject a pre-fed food when offered alone.
• These findings highlight the significant behavioral consequences of irregular feeding schedules.