Understanding children's fear of trying new foods
The Neural Organization of Taste Neophobia
This study looks at how kids feel about trying new foods and how that might affect their health, using animal models to understand what's happening in their brains when they taste something unfamiliar, with the hope of finding ways to help children be more open to trying different foods for better eating habits.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Memphis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10873946 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates how children react to unfamiliar foods and the potential health consequences of food neophobia, which is the fear of trying new tastes. By studying the brain's response to novel foods in animal models, the research aims to uncover the neural mechanisms behind this behavior. The findings could help identify ways to encourage children to try a wider variety of foods, potentially improving their dietary habits and overall health. The study employs advanced techniques to observe brain activity in response to different tastes, providing insights into how these reactions develop and can be modified.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years who exhibit food neophobia or have limited dietary variety.
Not a fit: Patients who are not children or who do not experience fear of trying new foods may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to strategies that help children overcome their fear of new foods, promoting healthier eating habits.
How similar studies have performed: While there has been some research on food neophobia in animals, this specific approach to studying the neural mechanisms in children is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Memphis, United States
- University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr — Memphis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Boughter, John D — University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr
- Study coordinator: Boughter, John D
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.