Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 28, 2026
A Novel Procedure for Evaluating the Reinforcing Properties of Tastants in Laboratory Rats: Operant Intraoral Self-administration
Published on: February 6, 2014
Brain imaging correlates of food addiction: A systematic review with methodological recommendations
Ilona Renaud1, Ronan Thibault2, David Val-Laillet1
1INRAE, INSERM, Univ Rennes, Nutrition Metabolisms and Cancer, NuMeCan, Rennes, St Gilles, France.
Background:
Food addiction (FA) affects a significant proportion of the general population and could contribute to excess weight and its related complications. This phenomenon has been well described in terms of behavior, but little is known about its neurological determinants. The primary aim of this systematic review is to identify the neuroimaging characteristics associated with FA, using the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) as a validated assessment tool.
Methods:
A systematic search was conducted in PubMed and ScienceDirect databases from 2009 to July 2024 in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Studies were included if they investigated associations between the YFAS and neuroimaging outcomes. A descriptive analysis was conducted due to the methodological heterogeneity between the included articles.
Results:
Of the 528 records identified, 25 studies were included in the review, representing 3081 participants in total. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI, n = 18) and structural MRI (n = 9), were the most commonly used imaging techniques. Studies reported associations between YFAS scores and altered resting-state functional connectivity or brain responses to cognitive tasks, especially in caudate, putamen, amygdala, insula, nucleus accumbens, orbitofrontal cortex, thalamus and precuneus. Yet, numerous neuroimaging findings related to FA presented discrepancies across studies.
Discussion:
There is some evidence of altered activation and functional connectivity in brain areas involved in reward and cognitive control among individuals with FA. However, neuroimaging outcomes related to FA remain highly inconsistent across studies, partly due to heterogenous methodologies. Methodological recommendations are provided to improve consistency of future neuroimaging research in the context of FA.
