You are what you eat: a neuroscience perspective on consumers’ personality characteristics as determinants of eating behavior

• Published in: Current opinion in food science Vol. 3; pp. 11 - 18
• Main Authors: van der Laan, Laura N, Smeets, Paul AM
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2015
• Subjects: Chair Sensory Science and Eating Behaviour; HNE Sensoriek en Eetgedrag; HNE Sensory Science and Eating Behaviour; Sensoriek en eetgedrag; Sensory Science and Eating Behaviour; VLAG
• ISSN: 2214-7993; 2214-8000
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cofs.2014.11.001

•We reviewed personality characteristics in relation to food-induced brain responses.•Food-specific and general characteristics may have a similar neural background.•Variability within and between personality characteristics was high. Evidence for a link between personality characteristics and eating behavior is mounting. However, the underlying neurobiological mechanisms remain unclear. In this review and meta-analysis we summarize the current knowledge on personality characteristics in relation to food-induced brain responses and suggest topics for future research. Overall, the number of studies is low and there is significant variability in findings: the variability in findings related to single personality characteristics was of similar magnitude as that between different personality characteristics. Nevertheless, many food-specific personality characteristics are interrelated and modulate food-induced brain responses in similar brain areas as more general personality characteristics do. To advance the field and improve consumer profiling, standardized measures of food-related brain responses and personality characteristics are required.