The Influence of Obesity and Insulin Sensitivity on Reward Processing and Decision Making

NCT07638059 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: 26-058K01DK142002
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 50
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

Reward learning and decision-making processes, which operate largely outside of conscious control, shape food choices and eating behaviors. Excess adiposity is associated with differences in brain structure and functional connectivity underlying these processes, and insulin resistance, which commonly co-occurs with excess adiposity, has been linked with dopamine signaling that is crucial for these processes. However, whether and how excess adiposity and insulin resistance affect reward learning and decision-making remains poorly understood. This study will address that gap, examining the effects of excess adiposity and insulin resistance, and their interaction, on processes of reward learning and decision-making in food-specific and general contexts.

Conditions

Adiposity; Insulin Sensitivity/Resistance; Reward Learning; Decision-Making

Keywords

flavor nutrient learning; insulin sensitivity; adiposity; decision-making; probabilistic learning

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Rated Liking

  Participants will rate liking of flavors that will be paired with conditioned stimulus (CS) + and CS- drinks on a labeled hedonic scale during an enrollment session. In a post-test session, after all conditioning sessions have occurred, participants will rate liking of flavors that were previously paired with CS+ and CS- drinks.

  On the first day of enrollment to the post-test session approximately 1-2 weeks later

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Rated Wanting

  On the first day of enrollment to the post-test session approximately 1-2 weeks later

• Proportion Correct on a Probabilistic Learning Task

  Approximately 30-45 minutes during the enrollment/screening session at the start of the study

Study Arms (2)

Conditioned Stimulus- First, Then Conditioned Stimulus +

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will consume the Conditioned Stimulus (CS) - experimental drink 6 times during flavor-nutrient conditioning sessions. Then, they will consumes the CS+ experimental drink 6 times during flavor-nutrient conditioning sessions.

Other: Beverage: Conditioned Stimulus -; Other: Beverage: Conditioned Stimulus +

Conditioned Stimulus + First, Then Conditioned Stimulus -

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will consume the Conditioned Stimulus (CS) + experimental drink 6 times during flavor-nutrient conditioning sessions. Then, they will consumes the CS- experimental drink 6 times during flavor-nutrient conditioning sessions.

Other: Beverage: Conditioned Stimulus -; Other: Beverage: Conditioned Stimulus +

Interventions

Beverage: Conditioned Stimulus + OTHER

Participants will consume flavored beverage solutions sweetened with sucralose and containing 110 calories of maltodextrin during 6 conditioning sessions.

Conditioned Stimulus + First, Then Conditioned Stimulus -; Conditioned Stimulus- First, Then Conditioned Stimulus +

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 45 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• to 45 years of age
• Self-reported weight stable (within 5 lbs) for previous 3 months
• Not pregnant or planning to become pregnant during study participation
• Weigh more than 110 lbs (due to blood draws used in study)
• Residing in Roanoke, VA, area and/or willing to attend sessions at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute

You may not qualify if:

• BMI \< 18.5 or \> 40 kg/m2
• Hemoglobin A1c \> 6.4%
• Fasting blood glucose \> 126 mg/dL
• hour blood glucose \> 200 mg/dL
• Self-reported current diagnosis of diabetes or other endocrine/metabolic disorder
• Self-reported current inhaled nicotine use
• Self-reported history of alcohol dependence
• Self-reported use of medications known to influence study measures (including antiglycemic agents, thyroid medications, etc.)
• Self-reported neurological or psychological disorder
• Self-reported claustrophobia or discomfort with mock fMRI training
• Self-reported history of head injury resulting in loss of consciousness for more than 10 minutes
• Contraindications to MRI, including pacemaker, aneurysm clip, neurostimulator, cochlear implant, metal in eyes, steel worker, other implants
• Self-reported previous metabolic/weight loss surgery
• Self-reported allergy to ingredient used in the study drinks

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University: lead
• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK): collaborator

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Obesity; Insulin Resistance

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Overweight; Overnutrition; Nutrition Disorders; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Body Weight; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Hyperinsulinism; Glucose Metabolism Disorders; Metabolic Diseases

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Research Scientist

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 28, 2026
• First Posted: June 10, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): July 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2029
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2029
• Last Updated: June 10, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06