Understanding how cravings affect food choices in addiction

Craving's role in biasing subjective value computation in food addiction

NIH-funded research Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences · NIH-10997783

This study is looking at how cravings affect the way people with food addiction think about and value different foods, using brain scans to see how their brains react when they experience cravings.

Quick facts

Grant typeFellowship grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionRutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-10997783 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the impact of cravings on how individuals value food, particularly in those with food addiction. By using functional MRI (fMRI) technology, the study will explore the brain's response to cravings and how these cravings influence decision-making regarding food consumption. Participants will engage in a multisensory food activity to induce cravings and then assess their willingness to pay for various food items, allowing researchers to track changes in perceived value. The goal is to uncover the neural mechanisms that drive biased decision-making during cravings.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who experience food addiction and have significant cravings for high-calorie foods.

Not a fit: Patients who do not experience cravings or have no issues with food addiction may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and treatment strategies for individuals struggling with food addiction.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research using fMRI to study cravings has shown promising results, indicating that this approach could yield valuable insights into food addiction.

Where this research is happening

Newark, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions CancersCardiac DiseasesCardiac Disorders
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.