“We gave (rats) access to M&Ms,” DiFeliceantonio said. The researchers found the rats experienced an increase in a particular type of endorphin, a chemical produced in the brain that responds to a variety of stimuli like excitement and pain.
She said the study was primarily conducted in three parts, the first involved observing rats in their natural environment, carrying out daily activities like chewing toys or eating, and then introducing them to M&Ms. “You insert a small, painless probe into (the rat’s) brain area of interest and what the probe does is collect the chemicals floating around in that brain area,” DiFeliceantonio said. DiFeliceantonio said the micro-dialysis process allowed for precise collection of brain information from the rats, before the crew sent the chemicals to Mabrouk to conduct measurements and analysis. Kent Berridge and research fellow Omar Mabrouk - worked out of the lab of chemistry Prof. The team - comprised of Rackham student Alexandra DiFeliceantonio, the first author of the paper, neuroscience Prof.
20 in Current Biology, details the findings of a University research team that discovered a key endorphin in rats that triggers the desire to eat junk food, utilizing micro-dialysis technology to seek out psychological intent to consume bad foods.