Valerie L. Darcey

When does post-ingestive dopamine signaling occur in humans?

This study shows that post-ingestive dopamine signaling in humans is reduced 2 hours after a meal and varies with BMI and adiposity, suggesting a prolonged response beyond the early postprandial period.

Restriction of dietary fat, but not carbohydrate, affects brain reward regions in adults with obesity

This study shows that dietary fat restriction, but not carbohydrate restriction, reduces dopamine D2/3 receptor binding and neural activity in brain reward regions in adults with obesity.

Risk-related decision making evokes distinct brain activation patterns in reward evaluation regions in substance use naïve versus non-naïve adolescents

The paper examines brain activation patterns in adolescents during reward decision-making, finding differences between those who initiate substance use and those who do not.

Altered cortical development and psychiatric symptom risk in adolescents exposed to maternal stress in utero

This study finds that maternal stress during pregnancy is associated with increased gray matter volume in specific brain regions and higher psychiatric symptom risk in adolescents.

Dietary long-chain omega-3 fatty acids are related to impulse control and anterior cingulate function in adolescents

This study finds that higher dietary intake of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids is associated with better impulse control and reduced anterior cingulate activation in adolescents.