Tag: Neuroscience of eating

According to research from the Max Planck Institute, neurons in the brain that signal fullness also paradoxically trigger a craving for sugar. This fascinating brain-gut connection helps explain the phenomenon where you feel completely stuffed after a savory meal but still manage to find room for dessert. It's a scientific reality, not just a matter of willpower.

A 2023 study published in *The Journal of Eating Disorders* showed a significant link between hedonic hunger and behaviors such as food addiction and night eating in adolescents. Hedonic hunger occurs when you eat for pleasure even without needing calories. This differs from physical hunger and involves neural, environmental, and emotional factors.

Smelling food can cause a person to feel hungry and eat, even when they are full, due to the activation of the brain's reward system. This powerful sensory experience is a major factor in regulating our eating behaviors, often triggering cravings and influencing food choices. Understanding this complex interplay is key to exploring the full impact of our sense of smell on appetite.