Neuronal and Behavioral Effects of Implicit Priming in Obese Individuals

One factor that may contribute to susceptibility to obesity is a high responsivity to
high-calorie foods in terms of cognitive factors such as emotional associations, reward value
or reinforcing properties of food. Many of these processes involve learned associations
thought to develop via classical conditioning through repeated pairings with external
stimuli, which can influence food preferences and intake. As such, improving our
understanding of the neuronal mechanisms underlying these processes and attempting to modify
them may be a useful strategy to promote weight loss and maintenance. Therefore, the proposed
study aims to investigate the effects of altering food perception on neuronal responses and
food intake behaviors by using implicit priming, in which positively or negatively valenced
images are presented immediately prior to food images, but are not consciously perceived.

The project goals are to determine the impact of the implicit priming intervention on both
brain responses to food cues and on food intake behaviors in overweight/obese individuals.
Food image ratings and neuronal responses to visual food cues will be assessed before and
after either (a) an active implicit priming intervention or (b) a control intervention.
Following fMRI, food intake will be measured.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Overweight/obese adults

- Healthy weight adults

Exclusion Criteria:

- Vegetarian, vegan, or having other wide-ranging food restrictions

- Currently dieting