Review
Behavioral Sciences
Elizabeth E. Manning, Laura A. Bradfield, Mihaela D. Iordanova
Summary: In complex environments, organisms need to adapt their responses to conflicting information. Behavioral procedures like extinction, reversal learning, and active avoidance all rely on overlapping neural circuits to help organisms respond appropriately under conflict.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Merridee J. Lefner, Alexa P. Magnon, James M. Gutierrez, Matthew R. Lopez, Matthew J. Wanat
Summary: This study investigates the impact of temporal delays on reward preference by examining rats' preference for different flavored rewards during a free-feeding test, finding that temporal delays enhance preference for initially less desirable rewards.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Adrienne C. Loewke, Adelaide R. Minerva, Alexandra B. Nelson, Anatol C. Kreitzer, Lisa A. Gunaydin
Summary: The dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) plays a key role in controlling defensive behavior through specific top-down projections. The dmPFC-amygdala projection is involved in reflexive fear behavior, while the dmPFC-striatum projection regulates anxious avoidance behavior. These findings provide important insights into the neural mechanisms underlying anxiety disorders.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Dan C. Li, Niharika M. Dighe, Britton R. Barbee, Elizabeth G. Pitts, Brik Kochoian, Sarah A. Blumenthal, Janet Figueroa, Traci Leong, Shannon L. Gourley
Summary: Behavioral flexibility is crucial for navigating dynamic environments, and it relies on the durable encoding and retrieval of new memories. The orbitofrontal cortex plays a key role in supporting outcome-guided behaviors, while the connections between the basolateral amygdala, orbitofrontal cortex, and dorsomedial striatum are involved in the control of memory formation and retrieval. This study reveals the bidirectional control of memory formation and retrieval within this integrated circuit, shedding light on the mechanisms underlying flexible learning and memory.
NATURE NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Farshad Alizadeh Mansouri, Mark J. Buckley, Keiji Tanaka
Summary: Trial-by-trial alterations in response time are linked to fluctuations of executive control and lapses of attention. Remarkable homologies in performance-dependent fluctuations of response time between humans and monkeys have been reported, with lesions within orbitofrontal cortex exaggerating control fluctuations. Damage to dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex led to instability of control and disruption of the link with monkeys' upcoming decisions.
PROGRESS IN NEUROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Erin B. Lind, Brian M. Sweis, Anders J. Asp, Manuel Esguerra, Keelia A. Silvis, A. David Redish, Mark J. Thomas
Summary: An optogenetic spatial self-stimulation task in mice reveals how different excitatory inputs to the nucleus accumbens shell integrate information and drive behavioral responses during reinforcement learning. Each input provides distinct information, reflecting reinforcement of different credit assignment functions, and contributes to driving situationally appropriate behavioral responses.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Hua Tang, Vincent D. Costa, Ramon Bartolo, Bruno B. Averbeck
Summary: This study examines the activity of ventral and dorsal corticostriatal circuits in supporting goal-directed behavior. The amygdala, ventral striatum, orbitofrontal cortex, and lateral prefrontal cortex were analyzed while monkeys performed a task. The results suggest that information about stimuli and their value is encoded in the amygdala before options are presented and this information is passed to the LPFC for action execution. The ventral circuit maintains learned value information while the dorsal circuit is involved in action selection.
Article
Biology
Rawan AlSubaie, Ryan W. S. Wee, Anne Ritoux, Karyna Mishchanchuk, Jessica Passlack, Daniel Regester, Andrew F. MacAskill
Summary: Projections from the basal amygdala to the ventral hippocampus provide information about rewarding or threatening stimuli to support appropriate behavior. These projections consist of both excitatory and inhibitory inputs that control the activity of downstream neurons, ultimately affecting goal-directed behavior.
Article
Neurosciences
Karim Ibrahim, Carla Kalvin, Simon Morand-Beaulieu, George He, Kevin A. Pelphrey, Gregory McCarthy, Denis G. Sukhodolsky
Summary: Children with aggressive behavior exhibit reduced amygdala connectivity during face emotion processing, which is moderated by social impairment. The association between reduced amygdala-ventrolateral PFC connectivity and severity of aggression is influenced by social deficits in these children. Amygdala reactivity to fearful faces is not associated with aggressive behavior severity in children with social impairments.
Review
Neurosciences
Jiashu Wang, Bo Zhang, Shi Liang, Jian Li
Summary: The reinforcement history significantly influences human value-based choices, with prior costs and rewards biasing subsequent decisions within the mental accounting framework. Neurologically, activities in the ventral striatum recalibrate the reference point based on prior gains and losses, while functional connectivity between the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and medial orbitofrontal cortex affects individual susceptibility to prior outcomes.
PROGRESS IN NEUROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Rossella Oliva, Sanja Budisavljevic, Umberto Castiello, Chiara Begliomini
Summary: Binge-eating is characterized by higher trait impulsivity and greater gray matter volume in the left middle frontal gyrus among normal-weight individuals. These findings provide new insights into the neurobiological roots of binge-eating in non-clinical populations and highlight the association of this behavior with brain morphometric changes in prefrontal regions.
Article
Neurosciences
Sonja Chu, Cendri Hutcherson, Rutsuko Ito, Andy C. H. Lee
Summary: The prefrontal cortex (PFC) and medial temporal lobe (MTL) contribute differently to resolving conflict information and uncertainty during approach-avoidance decisions. The PFC may adjust response caution and evidence strength towards each choice, involving the anterior cingulate cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, while the MTL contributes to evidence generation, particularly through the hippocampus. These findings suggest unique contributions of MTL and PFC regions in arbitrating approach-avoidance conflict.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Masahiro Sawada, Ralph Adolphs, Brian J. Dlouhy, Rick L. Jenison, Ariane E. Rhone, Christopher K. Kovach, Jeremy D. W. Greenlee, Matthew A. Howard, Hiroyuki Oya
Summary: This study examines the functional connectivity of the human amygdala in patients with epilepsy using direct electrical stimulation. The findings reveal complex connectivity patterns in the human amygdala and provide important insights for further functional neuroimaging studies.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biology
H. Hannah Nam, John T. Jost, Michael R. Meager, Jay J. Van Bavel
Summary: Through studying patients with brain lesions, it was found that extensive damage in the frontal lobe was associated with more conservative political beliefs, while damage in the amygdala had less impact on political orientation. Although executive function did not mediate this relationship, the findings suggest a role for the prefrontal cortex in promoting the development of liberal ideology.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Rong Bi, Wanxin Dong, Zixin Zheng, Sijin Li, Dandan Zhang
Summary: This study found that individuals with subthreshold depressive state exhibit altered motivation when deciding whether to exert effort for themselves or for others. Compared to healthy controls, the subthreshold depressive group showed reduced brain activity when choosing to exert effort for themselves, but higher willingness and greater brain activation when choosing to exert effort for others. These changes were positively related to self-reported motivation.
DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Anita Jansen, Ghislaine Schyns
Summary: This article discusses some fundamental learning processes involved in unhealthy eating habits and introduces how exposure intervention can be applied to promote healthier eating and long-term behavioral change.
JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY PSYCHOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Maurane Desmet, Sieske Franssen, Tugce Varol, Alicia Fillon, David Thivel, Anne Roefs, Caroline Braet
Summary: This study investigated the perceptions of adolescents with overweight and their parents on (un)healthy behavior, the drivers of these behaviors, and the needs of an eHealth application for weight loss. The results showed that adolescents had a well-articulated perspective on healthy and unhealthy behavior and their needs, while parents underestimated their own influence and faced difficulties in healthy lifestyle parenting. Both parents and adolescents had challenging expectations for the content and format of an eHealth application. Rating: 7/10.
Article
Neurosciences
Sarah Kochs, Sieske Franssen, Leonardo Pimpini, Job van den Hurk, Giancarlo Valente, Alard Roebroeck, Anita Jansen, Anne Roefs
Summary: Brain responses to food depend on attentional focus rather than palatability or calorie content. Higher brain activity is observed when attentional focus is hedonic compared to health or neutral. Palatability and calorie content can be differentiated based on patterns of brain activity. Dietary restraint does not significantly influence brain responses to food.
Review
Pediatrics
Eric Dumont, Anita Jansen, Pieter C. Duker, Daniel M. Seys, Nick J. Broers, Sandra Mulkens
Summary: Treating disordered feeding at a young age reduces risks of future feeding problems, but not all children profit equally; can we define predictors of a worse prognosis?
FRONTIERS IN PEDIATRICS
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Hanna Melles, Anita Jansen
Summary: This study investigated whether different eating disorder diagnoses are equally characterized by similar fears and avoidance behaviors. The results showed that all self-reported eating disorder diagnoses exhibited more eating related fears, general fears, and avoidance behaviors compared to healthy controls. Among them, individuals with binge eating disorder showed less specific and general fears but less food avoidance behaviors compared to other eating disorders.
JOURNAL OF EATING DISORDERS
(2023)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Linsay Ketelings, Remco C. Havermans, Stef P. J. Kremers, Alie de Boer
Summary: Consumer awareness is increasing, leading to a shift toward consuming meat alternatives. However, there is no clear consensus on the definition of meat alternatives, making it difficult to compare research findings. This study systematically searched and screened relevant literature to propose three major themes for defining meat alternatives.
CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS IN NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Hanna Melles, Stefanie Duijvis, Anita Jansen
Summary: Exposure therapy is an effective intervention for anxiety-related disorders and may also be suitable for treating anorexia nervosa. However, exposure techniques are not commonly used in anorexia nervosa treatment. This article provides a practical guide for implementing exposure therapy in anorexia nervosa treatment, including the inhibitory learning model and designing exposure interventions specifically for individuals with anorexia nervosa. A case presentation is included to demonstrate the application of exposure therapy in treating fears and avoidance behaviors associated with anorexia nervosa.
BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Britt van Belkom, Ilse van Lier, Alexander Umanets, Edgar van Mil, Remco C. Havermans
Summary: Children have a stronger preference for sweet taste than adults, but they are less capable of distinguishing the intensity of sweetness. Therefore, beverages can be liked by children with less sugar as long as it is perceived as sweet. The sequence of tasting affects the perception of sweetness intensity in children, but not their liking of sugar-sweetened beverages.
FOOD QUALITY AND PREFERENCE
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Leonardo Pimpini, Sieske Franssen, Philipp Reber, Anita Jansen, Anne Roefs
Summary: This study investigates the effects of a health versus hedonic mindset on daily-life snacking behaviour. However, it was found that mindset did not affect snacking behavior, and instead, degree of craving and intake of snacks reduced significantly over time. This may be due to monitoring and socially desirable answering tendencies.
JOURNAL OF HUMAN NUTRITION AND DIETETICS
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Antonietta Canna, Elena Cantone, Anne Roefs, Sieske Franssen, Anna Prinster, Elia Formisano, Francesco Di Salle, Fabrizio Esposito
Summary: In this study, ultra-high field fMRI was used to investigate the neural signals in the Nucleus Tractus Solitarius (NTS) in response to different taste stimuli in the human brainstem. The results demonstrated a significant blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) response in the predicted location of the NTS for all basic taste stimuli. This study suggests the potential of using a similar experimental strategy to explore the central nervous system involvement in eating disorders.
FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Michelle Spix, Franziska Schutzeichel, Anita Jansen
Summary: This study aims to test the learning model of food restriction. The results show that introducing negative consequences for eating tasty high-calorie food and positive consequences for its avoidance can increase fear of food, reduce eating desires, and create food avoidance behaviors in healthy individuals.
BEHAVIOUR RESEARCH AND THERAPY
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Michelle Spix, Hanna Melles, Anita Jansen
Summary: When evaluating ambiguous situations, humans sometimes interpret safety behaviors as evidence for danger. This study tested the impact of eating disorder safety behaviors on threat perception in individuals with and without an eating disorder. Participants rated situations with eating disorder safety behaviors as more threatening, regardless of their eating disorder status. These findings suggest that eating disorder safety behaviors can increase threat perception and may contribute to the development and maintenance of eating disorder fears.
BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Correction
Behavioral Sciences
Leonardo Pimpini, Sarah Kochs, Sieske Frannsen, Job van den Hurk, Giancarlo Valente, Alard Roebroeck, Anita Jansen, Anne Roefs