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Synaptic plasticity of the orbitofrontal cortex in obesity

Neuropsychopharmacology volume 48, pages 257–258 (2023)Cite this article

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Complex interactions of internal and external factors drive overeating which leads to increased body weight and obesity. In our modern food environment, energy dense foods are typically overconsumed because they are easily accessible and highly palatable. Preclinical models of obesity have begun to examine how diet induced obesity impacts synaptic plasticity in brain regions that guide decision making and motivated feeding behavior. The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) can influence food intake decisions as it integrates sensory information with limbic, prelimbic, and basal ganglia regions [1, 2]. Rats with OFC lesions consume food regardless of the updated sensory features and motivational value of the outcome, in a habit-like fashion [2]. Given that habit-like eating is associated with obesity [1], it is possible that access to an obesogenic diet can influence OFC synaptic function. Here, we briefly summarize emerging evidence on how obesity alters synaptic plasticity in the lateral OFC (lOFC).

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Funding

SLB is supported by Koopmans Research Award, Canadian Institutes of Health Research operating grant (CIHR, FDN-147473) and a Canada Research Chair Tier 1 (950-232211).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, The University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada

    Lauren T. Seabrook & Stephanie L. Borgland

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  1. Lauren T. Seabrook
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  2. Stephanie L. Borgland
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LTS and SLB wrote, edited, and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Stephanie L. Borgland.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Seabrook, L.T., Borgland, S.L. Synaptic plasticity of the orbitofrontal cortex in obesity. Neuropsychopharmacol. 48, 257–258 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-022-01382-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-022-01382-6

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