Understanding how cravings affect food choices in addiction
Official title: Craving's role in biasing subjective value computation in food addiction
Funded at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences · NIH-10997783 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $35,523 |
| NIH project number | 1F31DA061624-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10997783 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who experience food addiction and have significant cravings for high-calorie foods.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not experience cravings or have no issues with food addiction may not benefit from this research.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schweitzer, Emma — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Schweitzer, Emma
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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.