Although specialized cortical pathways that process specific sensory stimuli and/or execute
cognitive functions have been identified, the neuro-specificity for food-related stimuli has not
been clearly demonstrated. We employed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to
compare neural systems associated with the appreciation of foods and nonfoods. Healthy,
normal weight, right-handed men and women (n= 12; age 29.8±1.8 y, BMI 21.8±0.8 kg/m 2)
were imaged by fMRI while fasting. Real food and nonfood items were presented to subjects …