Watching the eating of others can stimulate too much eating, but it only happens in the case of sweets. This effect is related to the work of the dopamine system of the brain. This conclusion was the researchers of Baylor Medical College. The results of the study were published in Nature Communications (Natcom).
During the experiment, scientists have divided the mice to the hungry and well-eaten, after which they were placed side by side so that they could see their "neighbors" but could not communicate with them. Good eating animals remained indifferent if individuals nearly eating ordinary or fatty food. However, when their relatives ate sweets, even well-eating mice began to actively eat, already in the first hour.
This effect has disappeared when the animals have given dopamine receptors blocking drugs. According to scientists, these D1 and D2 play an important role in raising appetite when they see someone else's food. According to scientists, the work of the two types of receptors activates the brain's reward mechanism.
"When D1 and D2 are activated, the brain receives a signal. "This is nice, repeat that." Only when eating someone can cause a desire to eat too much, even if you are not physically hungry, "said Head of Research. Dr. Yong Column.
Researchers noted that in today's world, the tempting images of food are everywhere, advertising, social networks and screens. Understanding the behavior of visual and social incentives can take a step towards the development of new ways to combat healthy habits and to eat too much.
Translation of: Euromedia24.com
