Individual differences in late positive potential amplitude and theta power predict cue-induced eating

Abstract

Both the brains affective and cognitive systems are known to regulate cue-induced behaviors. Although it is established that individual differences in affective processing of food-related cues predict cue-induced eating, we have yet to investigate how both affective and cognitive mechanisms act in tandem to regulate cue-induced eating. We recorded electroencephalogram (EEG) from 59 adults while they viewed emotional & food-related images that preceded the delivery of food rewards (candies) or nonfood objects (beads). We measured the amplitude of the late positive potential (LPP) in response to images and power in the theta (4-8 Hz) frequency band after the candy or bead was dispensed to the participant. We found that individuals with larger LPP responses to food cues than to pleasant images (C>P group) ate significantly more during the experiment than did those with the opposite response pattern (P>C group, p {theta}BE) ate significantly more than did those with the opposite response pattern ({theta}BE>{theta}CA, p C and {theta}BE>{theta}CA group ate less (p < 0.001) than did the other three groups formed by crossing the LPP and theta group assignments, who exhibited similar eating behavior on average (p = 0.662). These findings demonstrate that motivational salience and cognitive control converge to independently confer vulnerability or resilience to cue-induced behaviors, underscoring the need for individualized treatments to mitigate maladaptive behaviors. HIGHLIGHTSO_LILPP responses to motivationally salient stimuli predict cue-induced eating. C_LIO_LITheta power in the presence of food rewards predicts cue-induced eating. C_LIO_LIThe LPP & theta may inform the development of personalized weight-loss interventions. C_LI