The brain – gut interaction: defining the role of the nutrient-induced human brain activation matrix

Due to the high prevalence of obesity in America (around 35%) and in Europe (above 20%) and its dramatic consequences on human health, research aiming to understand the basic mechanisms that regulate food intake, appetite and body weight is therefore needed.
New evidences suggest that fuel sensing occurs in a number of peripheral cell types, which include specific taste receptors in the gut. These receptors produce a chemical cascade signaling the central nervous system (CNS) for energy balance regulation. At the same time in the CNS specific brain regions directly sense fuel status. An emerging new methodology investigates neural correlates
of appetite and satiety, using functional neuroimaging techniques.
In the present work we aim at investigating the brain-gut matrix. First, through a systematic review of the literature, previous studies assessing the effects of nutrients on brain functions were examined to identify a common research methodology and related results.
Afterwards we extensively study the effects of sugars and amino acids on the food-reward system, focusing on brain resting state functional connectivity.
Finally, we focus on glucose and fructose effects on cognitive functions, by investigating two of the most common dimensions of cognitive functions such as
working memory and response inhibition.