Neurocognitive Models of Behavioral Control in Obesity (A05+)

• Subject Area: Human Cognitive and Systems Neuroscience
• Term: from 2013 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 209933838

The present project pursues the hypothesis that alterations in cognitive control of overt behavior are of high relevance in the pathogenesis of obesity. The neurotransmitter dopamine plays a central role in several cognitive key domains such as (food) motivation, reinforcement learning, and memory. Due to its central role, alterations in dopaminergic tone impact on different behaviors, ranging from eating to decision making and learning. Therefore, project A5 tests the hypotheses that (1) dopaminergic transmission is altered in obesity and affects brain function in striatal and prefrontal areas, and associated learning behavior, (2) dopaminergic alterations depend on the degree of obesity and (3) alterations induced by obesity interact with genetic factors.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1052: Obesity Mechanisms
• Applicant Institution: Universität Leipzig
• Project Heads: Professorin Dr. Annette Horstmann; Privatdozentin Dr. Jane Neumann, until 12/2016