Recipient Organization
DREXEL UNIVERSITY
3141 CHESTNUT STREET
PHILADELPHIA,PA 19104
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
(N/A)
Animal Health Component
30%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
10%
Applied
30%
Developmental
60%
Goals / Objectives
Objective 1: Assess retinal b wave signal in response to varying levels of sugar/fat in a commercially available chocolate product(Lindt chocolate) using the RETeval® electroretinography (ERG) system and correlate results with scores on the Gormally Binge Eating Scale (BES) and the Psychological Effects Questionnaire (PEQ copy attached) (Nasser et al 2011) based on Addiction Research Center Inventory (ARCI) Excitation and Morphine/Benzedrine subscales. We hypothesize that the retinal b wave response will increase with increasing sugar content in chocolate and correlate positively with BES and PEQ scores. Objective 2: Assess and compare retinal b wave signal in response to high fat/no sugar foods (i.e. cream cheese, olive oil), and in high sugar/no fat foods (i.e. sugar frosted cereal, non-chocolate candies) and correlate with scores on the BES and PEQ. We hypothesize that high fat foods will elicit a b wave response equal in magnitude to high sugar foods, and correlate positively with scores on the BES and PEQ.
Project Methods
Dr. Nasser will be responsible for the recruitment and data collection of 20 study participants. Dr. Casperson will be responsible for the recruitment and data collection of 20 study participants. All subject data from both locations will be pooled for analysis. Data for these subjects will then be used for power analysis. For objective 2, USDA-ARS will develop high fat/no sugar and in high sugar/no fat foods or beverages that will allow for blinding of both the subjects and the research staff. The development of these foods/beverages will provide the scientist with a dose response curve of the dopaminergic response to sugar and fat.