sugar

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sugar

·April 15, 2020·4 min read

A gut-to-brain circuit drives sugar preference and may explain sugar cravings

Sweet tasting foods don't only trigger the taste buds, they also switch on a neurological pathway that begins in the gut. In the intestines, signals of sugar ingestion travel to the brain, sparking an appetite for more sweet foods. However, this pathway only responds to sugars, not artificial sweeteners. Read More

Featured Neuroscience

·July 9, 2019·2 min read

Blue light at night increases the consumption of sweets: Rat study

Rats exposed to blue light at night were more prone to indulge in sugary snacks than regular foods. Read More

This shows a cartoon of people on a cross roads

Featured Neuroscience

·July 10, 2020·3 min read

Brain Cells that Trigger Sugar Cravings and Consumption Identified

FGF21, a hormone created in the liver in response to increased levels of sugar, acts in the brain to suppress sugar intake and controls the preference for sweet-tasting foods. Read More

MRI scan with the striatum highlighted in red.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 25, 2016·2 min read

Deciphering Sugar’s Siren Song

Signals for taste and nutrients are processed in two separate areas of the striatum, a new study reports. Read More

Image shows a person holding a slice of cake.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 29, 2017·3 min read

Dulled Taste May Prompt More Calories on Path to Obesity

A new study reveals blocking taste receptors leads people to desire sweeter, higher calorie foods. Researchers believe a dulled sense of taste could increase a person's obesity risk. Read More

This image shows MRI brain scans of the limbic system.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·June 25, 2015·4 min read

Fructose Not as Stimulating to Brain’s Reward System as Glucose

A new study reports fructose produces less reward sensations in the brain than glucose. Read More

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·April 20, 2017·5 min read

Is Soda Bad For Your Brain?

Excess consumption of both regular and diet soda are associated with accelerated brain aging, smaller hippocampal volume and poor memory. Read More

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 4, 2019·3 min read

No such thing as ‘sugar rush’! Sugar worsens mood rather than improving it

Carbohydrate consumption from sugary drinks and snacks does not help to improve mood. The findings may help increase public awareness that the 'sugar rush' is a myth and help inform health policies to promote healthier alternatives. Read More

Image shows candy sprinkles on a woman's lips.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 6, 2017·6 min read

Not So Sweet? This Is What Happens to the Brain When You Give Up Sugar for Lent

Decided to cut back on sugary treats? A new article considers why it might not be such a sweet idea for all. Read More

The image is a diagram from Gray's Anatomy which shows a cut away in the brain revealing the insular cortex.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 11, 2014·3 min read

Obese Children’s Brains More Responsive to Sugar

A new neuroimaging study reports of neural differences in obese children when they taste sugar. Read More

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·April 20, 2018·4 min read

Pregnant Mothers and Offspring Should Limit Added Sugars in Diet to Protect Childhood Cognition

Researchers warn pregnant women and their children to avoid drinking too many sodas, as excessive amounts of sugar in these drinks can negatively impact memory and learning. However, consuming fruits appears to be beneficial for cognitive development, the study reports. Read More

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·December 18, 2018·3 min read

Snacking May Increase Inflammation

Researchers report snacking can raise inflammation and contribute to metabolic diseases. Read More

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