Figure 1 | Scientific Reports

Figure 1

From: Oxytocin curbs calorie intake via food-specific increases in the activity of brain areas that process reward and establish cognitive control

Figure 1The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.

Experimental procedure, plasma oxytocin concentrations and breakfast intake. (a) Following baseline assessments of food-related and psychological variables and blood sampling, healthy young men were intranasally administered oxytocin (24 IU) and placebo, respectively, around 09.00 h (t = 0; spray symbol). After substance administration, participants were placed in the fMRI scanner to first undergo several technical scans followed by the food picture (35 min post-adminsitration) and the monetary incentive delay (MID) task (55 min), with an additional blood sampling in between. Seventy-five min after administration, subjects were allowed to eat ad libitum from a free-choice test buffet for 30 min, and the fMRI scans were repeated in the postprandial state. Around 85 min after termination of the buffet, snack intake was measured under the pretext of a taste-rating task, olfactory function was tested and appetite as well as short-term memory were assessed. (b) Mean plasma oxytocin concentrations (±SEM) assessed before and after intranasal administration (upright dotted line) of oxytocin (24 IU; grey dots and solid lines) and placebo (vehicle; white dots and dotted lines). (c) Calorie consumption from a test breakfast offered 75–105 min post-administration. N = 14–15; **p < 0.01, *p < 0.05 for comparisons between conditions (pairwise t-tests).

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