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Published on: September 18, 2014
Modulation of gastric activity using appetizing and disgusting images
Ilan Oseran1, Matan Dahan1, Yoav Livneh2
1Department of Psychology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
Emotion (Washington, D.C.)
|August 13, 2026
Summary
Emotional images significantly alter stomach activity. Viewing disgusting images reduced gastric activity, while appetizing images increased it, suggesting top-down gut-brain communication.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gastroenterology
- Psychology
Background:
- Interoception integrates internal bodily signals, crucial for homeostasis, cognition, and emotion.
- Bidirectional brain-body communication underpins interoception.
- Evidence suggests brain-stomach synchronization, necessitating investigation into emotional image effects on gastric activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if emotional images (appetizing, disgusting) modulate gastric activity.
- To characterize top-down gut-brain interactions.
- To establish a methodological foundation for simultaneous electrogastrogram (EGG) and neural recordings.
Main Methods:
- Recorded gastric myoelectric activity using electrogastrogram (EGG) in 46 participants.
- Participants viewed randomized blocks of appetizing, disgusting, and neutral images.
- Collected subjective ratings, recall data, and psychological/interoception questionnaires.
Main Results:
- Significantly lower EGG power in the normogastric range observed for disgusting images compared to appetizing images.
- A higher proportion of normogastric power found in the appetizing condition versus the neutral condition.
- Results were independent of BMI, meal timing, hunger, psychological measures, or recall.
Conclusions:
- Gastric activity is modulated top-down by emotional visual stimuli.
- Reduced EGG power for disgusting images may signal food rejection preparation.
- Increased normogastric activity for appetizing images may indicate preparation for digestion.
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