Cognitive Load Alters Neuronal Processing of Food Odors

Functional neuronal processing of body odors differs from that of similar common odors.

Visual and auditory stimuli of high social and ecological importance are processed in the brain by specialized neuronal networks. To date, this has not been demonstrated for olfactory stimuli. By means of positron emission tomography, we sought to elucidate the neuronal substrates behind body odor perception to answer the question of whether the central processing of body odors differs from per...

Cognitive processing of food rewards

Cues associated with tasty foods, such as their smell or taste, are strong motivators of eating, but the power of food cues on behaviour varies from moment to moment and from person to person. Variation in the rewarding value of a food with metabolic state explains why food cues are more attractive when hungry. However, cognitive processes are also important determinants of our responses to foo...

Cognitive load theory: more food for thought

A scientific theory is an explanation of a set of related observations, phenomena, or events based upon one or more hypotheses and verified multiple times by the evidence of detached groups of researchers. Cognitive load theory (CLT) was designed ‘‘to provide guidelines intended to assist in the presentation of information in a manner that encourages learner activities that optimize intellectua...

Effects of Cognitive Load 1 Running Head: Effects of Cognitive Load Effects of Cognitive Load on Processing and Performance

Cerebral Cortex doi:10.1093/cercor/bhm178 Functional Neuronal Processing of Body Odors Differs from that of Similar Common Odors

Visual and auditory stimuli of high social and ecological importance are processed in the brain by specialized neuronal networks. To date, this has not been demonstrated for olfactory stimuli. By means of positron emission tomography, we sought to elucidate the neuronal substrates behind body odor perception to answer the question of whether the central processing of body odors differs from per...