Altered brain correlates of response inhibition and error processing in females with obesity and sweet food addiction: A functional magnetic imaging study

Summary Background The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impulsivity and brain correlates of response inhibition and error processing among females with obesity and sweet food addiction (O & SFA). Methods We evaluated the response inhibition and error processing by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in subjects with O & SFA and controls. Twenty females with O & SFA and 20 controls were recruited. All subjects performed the event-related designed Go/No-go task under fMRI and completed questionnaires related to food craving and impulsivity. Results The O & SFA group exhibited a higher score for impulsivity than did the control group. The O & SFA also exhibited lower brain activation when processing response inhibition over the right rolandic operculum and thalamus than controls. Both O & SFA and control groups exhibited activation of the insula and caudate during error processing. The activation over the left insula, precuneus, and bilateral putamen were higher in the subjects with O & SFA than for those in the control group. Conclusion: Our results support the fact that the fronto-striatal network is involved in response inhibition, and the caudate and insula contributes to error processing. Furthermore, women with O & SFA have impaired rolandic operculum when processing response inhibition and have greater insular and putamen activation in maintain their error processing function.