Examining cortical systems involved in modulating calorie-seeking behavior

随着实验室中非侵入性调节和测量大脑活动的方法的出现，我们以前从未处于揭开暴饮暴食背后的关键机制的地位。同样，随着对暴饮暴食和许多不良健康后果之间联系的了解，在这一研究领域产生新的知识，以确保我们的预防努力得到基础科学(而不是大众观点或惯例)的指导，变得前所未有地重要。我继续研究计划的总体目标是建立并进一步巩固这个知识库，利用社会神经科学、心理科学和基础行为科学的技术，弥合关于饮食的基础研究和应用研究之间的差距。我们的研究将努力测试两个大脑区域对控制放纵进食的不同方面的重要性，无论是独立的还是共同工作的：背外侧前额叶皮质和背内侧前额叶皮质。我们提出的研究计划将是第一个系统地检查这些大脑区域参与的多种可能机制的项目之一，通过实验实际操纵这些区域的功能，使用一种名为经颅磁刺激(RTMS)的技术与便携式大脑成像技术(功能性近红外光谱)相结合。在这样做的同时，我们还将尝试进行一些方法上的改进，这将有助于推动整个领域在涉及这里感兴趣的大脑系统的饮食基础研究方面取得进展。加拿大非常需要培训计划，提供rTMS、脑成像和饮食研究方面的培训，我们处于有利的位置。尽管许多实验室使用fMRI进行大脑成像，但我们的方案使用了一种移动版本的大脑成像，这可能对研究在现实条件下进食时的大脑过程特别有用，而这些条件是无法在fMRI扫描仪中复制的。作为一个国家，加拿大将受益于作为疾病预防工作基础的知识基础的改善，其中许多工作的关键重点是遏制暴饮暴食。研究生和本科生将受益于获得大脑调制(RTMS)和便携式脑成像研究方案的技能，并有机会为这一快速增长的科学研究领域做出贡献。

With the advent of methods to non-invasively modulate and measure brain activity in the laboratory, never before have we been in the position of unpacking the critical mechanisms underlying indulgent eating. Likewise, with the understanding of links between indulgent eating and many adverse health outcomes, never before has it been more critical to generate new knowledge in this area of enquiry, in order to ensure that our preventative efforts are informed by basic science (rather than popular opinion or convention). The overall objectives of my continuing research program are to build and further consolidate this knowledge base, bridging the gap between basic and applied research on eating, using techniques from social neuroscience, psychological science and basic behavioral science. Our studies will endeavor to test the significance of two brain regions to control different aspects of indulgent eating, either independently or working together: the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex. The research program that we have proposed will be among the first to systematically examine multiple putative mechanisms by which such brain regions are involved, by actually manipulating the function of these experimentally, using a technique called transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) combined with a portable brain imaging technology (functional near-infrared spectroscopy). While doing so, we also will attempt to make a number of methodological refinements that will serve to move the whole field forward in the conduct of basic research on eating involving the brain systems of interest here. There is much need in Canada for training programs that provide training in rTMS, brain imaging, and eating research and we are well situated to do this. Although many labs make use of fMRI for brain imaging, our protocol uses a mobile version of brain imaging that may be particularly useful for studying brain processes during eating in realistic conditions that are not replicable in an fMRI scanner. Canada as a country will benefit from an improved knowledge base upon which to base disease prevention efforts, many of which have a critical focus on curbing indulgent eating. Trainees at the graduate and undergraduate level will benefit from gaining skills in brain modulation (rTMS) and portable brain imaging research protocols, and an opportunity to contribute to this rapidly growing area of scientific inquiry.