Foods high in sucrose, or table sugar, influence brain reward circuitry in ways similar to those observed when addictive drugs are consumed, according to an Aarhus University-led study performed on minipigs. Winterdahl et al investigated the effects of sucrose using positron-emission tomography (PET) imaging with [11C]carfentanil (μ-opioid receptor agonist) and [11C]raclopride (dopamine D2/3 receptor antagonist) in seven female anesthetized Göttingen...
![Winterdahl et al investigated the effects of sucrose using positron-emission tomography (PET) imaging with [11C]carfentanil (μ-opioid receptor agonist) and [11C]raclopride (dopamine D2/3 receptor antagonist) in seven female anesthetized Göttingen minipigs. Image credit: Winterdahl et al, doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-53430-9.](https://cdn.sci.news/images/2020/01/image_8019-Sugar-Brain-370x215.jpg)