CRC/Transregio TRR 134, Project B02: The interplay between hedonic and hormonal stimuli in the central regulation of energy and glucose metabolism in humans

This project will characterize the interplay of hedonic-emotional and hormonal stimuli in the regulation of glucose and energy homeostasis in humans with respect to body weight. In the first funding period, our data revealed the impact of visual food cues on glucose metabolism as well as the anorectic and glucoregulatory potential of oxytocin in men. In the second funding period, we will closer investigate the impact of hedonic stimulatory paradigms (visual food cues, "eating in Company") on glucose metabolism and food intake in men as well as the impact of intranasal oxytocin on these parameters in lean and obese women to detect gender differences. Based on promising results in animals, we will also investigate the impact of vasopressin on food intake in humans. By combining “eating in company” and intranasal oxytocin, we aim at characterizing the impact of the stimulatory hedonic component and the anorectic hormonal component on food intake in humans. Our results will help to generate treatment strategies for obesity caused by dysfunction in reward-processing and by the surplus of energy-dense foods.