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Neuromodulation targeted to the prefrontal cortex induces changes in energy intake and weight loss in obesity.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE:Obesity is associated with decreased activity in the prefrontal cortex. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) modifies cortical excitability and may facilitate improved control of eating. The energy intake (EI) and body weight in subjects who received cathodal versus sham (study 1) and subsequent anodal versus sham (study 2) tDCS aimed at the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (LDLPFC) were measured. METHODS:Nine (3m, 6f) healthy volunteers with obesity (94?±?15 kg [M?±?SD]; 42?±?8 y) were admitted as inpatients for 9 days to participate in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover experiment. Study 1: following 5 days of a weight-maintaining diet, participants received cathodal or sham tDCS (2 mA, 40 min) on three consecutive mornings and then ate ad libitum from a computerized vending machine, which recorded EI. Weight was measured daily. Study 2: participants repeated the study, maintaining original assignment to active (this time anodal) and sham. RESULTS:Participants tended to consume fewer kilocalories per day (P?=?0.07), significantly fewer kilocalories from soda (P?=?0.02) and fat (P?=?0.03), and had a greater % weight loss (P?=?0.009) during anodal versus cathodal tDCS. CONCLUSIONS:The results indicated a role for the LDLPFC in obesity and food intake. This proof of concept study suggested, for the first time, the potential application of anodal tDCS to facilitate weight loss.

SUBMITTER: Gluck ME

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4636021 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Neuromodulation targeted to the prefrontal cortex induces changes in energy intake and weight loss in obesity.

Gluck Marci E ME Alonso-Alonso Miguel M Piaggi Paolo P Weise Christopher M CM Jumpertz-von Schwartzenberg Reiner R Reinhardt Martin M Wassermann Eric M EM Venti Colleen A CA Votruba Susanne B SB Krakoff Jonathan J

Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) 20151101 11

<h4>Objective</h4>Obesity is associated with decreased activity in the prefrontal cortex. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) modifies cortical excitability and may facilitate improved control of eating. The energy intake (EI) and body weight in subjects who received cathodal versus sham (study 1) and subsequent anodal versus sham (study 2) tDCS aimed at the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (LDLPFC) were measured.<h4>Methods</h4>Nine (3m, 6f) healthy volunteers with obesity (94 ± 1 ...[more]

PMID: 26530931

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Project description:Background: Obesity is associated with reduced activation in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), a region of the brain that plays a key role in the support of self-regulatory aspects of eating behavior and inhibitory control. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a noninvasive technique used to modulate brain activity.Objectives: We tested whether repeated anodal tDCS targeted at the left DLPFC (compared with sham tDCS) has an immediate effect on eating behavior during ad libitum food intake, resulting in weight change, and whether it might influence longer-term food intake-related appetite ratings in individuals with obesity.Design: In a randomized parallel-design study combining inpatient and outpatient assessments over 31 d, 23 individuals with obesity [12 men; mean ± SD body mass index (BMI; in kg/m2): 39.3 ± 8.42] received 15 sessions of anodal (i.e., enhancing cortical activity) or sham tDCS aimed at the left DLPFC. Ad libitum food intake was assessed through the use of a vending machine paradigm and snack food taste tests (SFTTs). Appetite was evaluated with a visual analog scale (VAS). Body weight was measured. We examined the effect of short-term (i.e., 3 sessions) and long-term (i.e., 15 sessions) tDCS on these variables.Results: Relative to sham tDCS, short-term anodal tDCS did not influence ad libitum intake of food from the vending machines. Accordingly, no effect on short-term or 4-wk weight change was observed. In the anodal tDCS group, compared with the sham group, VAS ratings for hunger and the urge to eat declined significantly more (P = 0.01 and P = 0.05, respectively), and total energy intake during an SFTT was relatively lower in satiated individuals (P = 0.01), after long-term tDCS.Conclusions: Short-term anodal tDCS of the left DLPFC did not have an immediate effect on ad libitum food intake or thereby weight change, relative to sham tDCS. Hunger and snack food intake were reduced only after a longer period of anodal tDCS in individuals with obesity. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00739362.

Dataset Information

Neuromodulation targeted to the prefrontal cortex induces changes in energy intake and weight loss in obesity.

Publications

Neuromodulation targeted to the prefrontal cortex induces changes in energy intake and weight loss in obesity.

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