Altered salience network connectivity predicts macronutrient intake after sleep deprivation

Abstract

Although insufficient sleep is a well-recognized risk factor for overeating and weight gain, the neural mechanisms underlying increased caloric (particularly fat) intake after sleep deprivation remain unclear. Here we used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and examined brain connectivity changes associated with macronutrient intake after one night of total sleep deprivation (TSD). Compared to the day following baseline sleep, healthy adults consumed a greater percentage of calories from fat and a lower percentage of calories from carbohydrates during the day following TSD. Subjects also exhibited increased brain connectivity in the salience network from the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) to bilateral putamen and bilateral anterior insula (aINS) after TSD. Moreover, dACC-putamen and dACC-aINS connectivity correlated with increased fat and decreased carbohydrate intake during the day following TSD, but not during the day following baseline sleep. These findings provide a potential neural mechanism by which sleep loss leads to increased fat intake.

Eating Decisions Based on Alertness Levels After a Single Night of Sleep Manipulation: A Randomized Clinical Trial

“…When reaction time slowed, participants ate more calories per session from denser food options; an observation unique to objective alertness. This finding is consistent with a recent study by Fang et al, 39 that showed that compared to the day following baseline sleep, after a night of total sleep deprivation, participants consumed a greater percentage of calories from the more calorically-dense macronutrient (fat) compared to the less calorically-dense macronutrient (carbohydrate). Evaluation by fMRI revealed that after sleep deprivation, brain regions core to the food-salience network positively correlated with the percentage of calories consumed from fat and negatively correlated with the percentage of calories consumed from carbohydrates.…”

Sleep–obesity relation: underlying mechanisms and consequences for treatment

“…We and others have shown that presentation of food stimuli after a period of SR enhances activity in neuronal centres associated with pleasure and reward compared with viewing the same stimuli after a period of normal sleep . One study examined resting state functional connectivity to assess salience network activity following a night of total sleep deprivation relative to habitual sleep . Compared to baseline and to a non‐sleep deprived control group, total sleep deprivation led to an increase in the strength of the connectivity between the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and bilateral putamen and between the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and bilateral insula.…”

Relationship between Sleep Duration and Risk Factors for Stroke

“…Fang et al showed that one night of total sleep deprivation led to a greater percentage of caloric intake from fat and a lower percentage from carbohydrates. Sleep-deprived subjects also demonstrated an increased brain connectivity in the salience network on functional MRI compared to subjects with normal sleep ( 74 ).…”