Reward learning and decision-making processes, which operate largely outside of conscious control, shape food choices and eating behaviors. Excess adiposity is associated with differences in brain structure and functional connectivity underlying these processes, and insulin resistance, which commonly co-occurs with excess adiposity, has been linked with dopamine signaling that is crucial for these processes. However, whether and how excess adiposity and insulin resistance affect reward learning and decision-making remains poorly understood. This study will address that gap, examining the effects of excess adiposity and insulin resistance, and their interaction, on processes of reward learning and decision-making in food-specific and general contexts.
18 to 45 years of age
Self-reported weight stable (within 5 lbs) for previous 3 months
Not pregnant or planning to become pregnant during study participation
Weigh more than 110 lbs (due to blood draws used in study)
BMI < 18.5 or > 40 kg/m2
Hemoglobin A1c > 6.4%
Fasting blood glucose > 126 mg/dL
2-hour blood glucose > 200 mg/dL
Crossover
Beverage: Conditioned Stimulus -
Other interventionParticipants will consume flavored beverage solutions sweetened with sucralose during 6 conditioning sessions.
Beverage: Conditioned Stimulus +
Other interventionParticipants will consume flavored beverage solutions sweetened with sucralose and containing 110 calories of maltodextrin during 6 conditioning sessions.
Rated Liking
Participants will rate liking of flavors that will be paired with conditioned stimulus (CS) + and CS- drinks on a labeled hedonic scale during an enrollment session. In a post-test session, after all conditioning sessions have occurred, participants will rate liking of flavors that were previously paired with CS+ and CS- drinks.
Rated Wanting
Participants will rate wanting of flavors that will be paired with conditioned stimulus (CS) + and CS- drinks on a visual analog scale during an enrollment session. In a post-test session, after all conditioning sessions have occurred, participants will rate wanting of flavors that were previously paired with CS+ and CS- drinks.
Proportion Correct on a Probabilistic Learning Task
Participants will complete a probabilistic learning task in which they choose between abstract stimuli and observe probabilistic outcomes with the goal of maximizing accuracy. The proportion of trials in which the objectively optimal choice has been selected will be computed as the proportion correct.
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Lead sponsor
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Collaborator
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