Yale University
This study measures the brain's dopamine response to milkshake consumption in people with a healthy weight and people with obesity and examines whether this response differs between the two groups. Dopamine release will be measured using ultra-high-resolution positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with the NeuroEXPLORER scanner. The study will also examine how the dopamine response relates to hormonal responses measured at the same time and to participants' food intake behavior.
This study aims to address three key questions: (1) whether the two phases of dopamine release in the striatum, a brain region involved in reward and motivation, during and after milkshake consumption differ between people with a healthy weight and people with obesity, and between men and women; (2) how metabolic and hormonal responses relate to dopamine release; and (3) whether dopamine-related networks outside the striatum differ between weight groups and predict eating behavior. These findings may improve our understanding of overeating and obesity and help inform the development of treatme…
Inclusion Criteria: * BMI 20-25 kg/m² (normal weight group) or BMI 30-45 kg/m² (obesity group) * Stable body weight in the 3 months prior to enrollment (\<5%weight change) * Male sex or postmenopausal female (defined as cessation of menstrual periods for ≥12 consecutive months or FSH \>25.8 mIU/mL) * Able to read, write, and speak English * Capable of giving informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Premenopausal status in women * Smoking (current use of any tobacco or nicotine products) * History of or current psychiatric disorder * History of or current neurological disorder * History of ble…
Strawberry, banana, chocolate, or vanilla flavored, delivered through a gustometer during the practice session and PET scan.
A next-generation ultra-high-performance dedicated human brain PET scanner.
Carbon-11 radiolabeled PET ligand with high affinity and selectivity for postsynaptic dopamine receptors; one of the standard radiotracers for measuring dopamine release in humans.
Arctuva estimate
Actual pay is set by the research site.
Verify or correct the compensation shown for this listing.