AUTHOR=Moore Catherine F. , Sabino Valentina , Koob George F. , Cottone Pietro 

TITLE=Neuroscience of Compulsive Eating Behavior

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neuroscience

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2017

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2017.00469

DOI=10.3389/fnins.2017.00469

ISSN=1662-453X

ABSTRACT=<p>A systematic characterization of compulsivity in pathological forms of eating has been proposed in the context of three functional domains: (1) habitual overeating; (2) overeating to relieve a negative emotional state; and (3) overeating despite aversive consequences. In this review, we provide evidence supporting this hypothesis and we differentiate the nascent field of neurocircuits and neurochemical mediators of compulsive eating through their underlying neuropsychobiological processes. A better understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms that lead to compulsive eating behavior can improve behavioral and pharmacological intervention for disorders of pathological eating.</p>