Spatiotemporal dynamics of the hedonic processing of chocolate images in individuals with and without trait chocolate craving

The spatiotemporal dynamics of the hedonic response to chocolate images was investigated in healthy participants high and low in trait-chocolate craving employing high-density ERPs. There were two sessions: (1) before and (2) after satiety for chocolate. Among cravers, chocolate stimuli evoked a positive amplitude ERP enhancement over the anterior frontal scalp (250–350 ms) that was not modified by satiety and that source localized to the left lateral orbitofrontal cortex. Chocolate stimuli also elicited a later LPP over the posterior scalp (360–560 ms) which was of similar amplitude for high and low chocolate cravers, independent of satiety. Unexpectedly, in non-cravers, chocolate stimuli elicited an earlier (100–250 ms) negative ERP modulation over the frontomedial scalp, which disappeared after eating chocolate to satiety. These results confirm the role of OFC in unrestrained appetitive responses to chocolate in cravers, and suggest top-down influences from cognitive control mechanisms when attempting to restrain the urge to eat chocolate in non-cravers.

► In cravers, chocolate stimuli selectively enhance an early left frontal positivity.
► The late positive potential is increased in size in both cravers and non-cravers.
► Satiety for chocolate does not affect early frontal positivity and LPP voltages.
► The early frontal positivity may index unrestrained wanting of chocolate in cravers.