You know the feeling: you’re tired, cranky, low or just have a serious, relentless desire for something sweet. Part of your brain cries out, “No, don’t do it, this will end badly.” But another (louder) part wants what it wants and won’t let up until that pint of Cherry Garcia, or red velvet cupcake or Caramel Macchiato is in plain sight. It’s an itch that must be scratched.
Now, brain scientists at MIT say they’ve identified a specific neural circuit in mice that can increase that compulsive overeating of sweets, but doesn’t interfere with normal eating patterns necessary for survival. More specifically, turning on this set of neurons drove mice to seek the reward of a sugary drink even in the face of punishment (a shock to the foot); and compelled them to eat voraciously even when full. When the researchers shut down this pathway, however, the compulsive sucrose-seeking decreased. Original Article »