Small DM, DiFeliceantonio AG. Processed foods and food reward. Science. 2019 Jan 25;363(6425):346-347. doi: 10.1126/science.aav0556. PMID: 30679360.
Signals that convey nutritional information from the gut to the brain regulate food reinforcement and food choice. Specifically, although central neural computations execute choice, the gut nervous system communicates information about the nutritional outcomes of choices to the brain so that representation of food values can be updated. Here, we discuss recent findings that suggest the fidelity of gut-brain signaling and the resulting representation of food value is compromised by processed foods. Understanding this axis could inform about feeding behavior involving processed foods and obesity.