Argument for a non-linear relationship between severity of human obesity and dopaminergic tone

摘要: Summary Alterations in the dopaminergic system have been implicated both animal and human obesity. However, to date, a comprehensive model on nature functional relevance of this relationship is missing. In particular, data remain equivocal that seemingly inconsistent reports exist positive, negative or even no relationships between dopamine D2/D3 receptor availability striatum measures Further, commonly interpreted as reflecting density, despite possibility an alternative interpretation, namely alterations basal levels endogenous tone. Here, we provide unifying framework able explain contradictory findings offer novel perspective existing data. suggest (i) quadratic degree obesity, (ii) observed are driven by shifts balance general tone phasic signalling. The proposed consistently integrates molecular behavioural characteristics overweight provides mechanistic accounting not only for consistent observation altered (food) reward–responsivity but also differences reinforcement learning, decision-making behaviour cognitive performance associated with