3: Motivation of Eating

Question 1

What is instinct theory?

Answer 1

The idea that all behaviour is driven by instincts which aid survival

Question 2

How does Maslow’s Higherarchy of needs link to motivation to eat?

Answer 2

We can’t move up the pyramid until our physiological needs are met such as food and sleep

Question 3

What is arousal theory?

Answer 3

Motivation aims to keep us at optimal levels of arousal. Arousal increases performance until optimal levels are reached, but after that it may hinder it

Question 4

What is the function of the cortical arousal system?

Answer 4

To arouse the brain

Question 5

What is the function of the ascending reticular activating system?

Answer 5

To regulate sleep and wake transactions

Question 6

What are the 3 phases of digestion?

Answer 6

Cephalic/reflex phase
Gastric/Absorbative phase
Intestinal phase

Question 7

What is the cephalic/reflex phase of digestion?

Answer 7

Body prepares itself for food through salvation. Initiated by the sight or smell of food

Question 8

What is the gastric/absorbative phase of digestion?

Answer 8

Triggered by food in the stomach

Ph levels in the stomach are lowered, leading to an increase in HCL

Question 9

What is the intestinal phase of digestion?

Answer 9

Food is broken down in the stomach and passed into the intestines

Question 10

How is energy stored in the body?

Answer 10

Glucose
Amino acids
Lipids

Question 11

What is drive reduction theory?

Answer 11

The physiological need (Hunger) creates arousal tension so we are motivated to satisfy it

It’s aim is to maintain homeostasis

Question 12

What is the glucostatic hypothesis? (Part of reduction theory)

Answer 12

Low blood glucose increases appetite

After a meal, insulin increases to make use of glucose

Question 13

What is the role of insulin in appetite?

Answer 13

Reduces appetite when it enters the brain. Mice with disrupted receptors have a higher rate of food intake and obesity

Question 14

What is ghrein?

Answer 14

A hormone made by the stomach to stimulate appetite

Question 15

What is PYY?

Answer 15

A hormone produced in the lower gastrointestinal tract that supresses appetite

Question 16

What is the lipostatic hypothesis? (Part of drive reduction theory)

Answer 16

Levels of fat influence food consumption to maintain a stable body weight

Question 17

How is the hypothalamus involved in appetite?

Answer 17

Regulates metabolic processes

Leisons lead to deminished appetite

Question 18

What is set point theory?

Answer 18

When we fall below our body’s natural normal weight, we’re triggered to eat more. When we’re too heavy, our metabolic rate increases

Question 19

What is positive insentive theory?

Answer 19

We’re motivated to eat by anticipated pleasure

Question 20

According to positive inscentive theory, what affects consumption?

Answer 20

Package size
Multipacks
Size of bowl
Environment
Social infleunces

Question 21

How does classical conditioning demonstrate the importance of external factors in eating?

Answer 21

Rats conditioned to assocate buzzer with food. Only ate when the buzzer sounded, even if they were already well-fed.

Question 22

What is sensory-specific satiety?

Answer 22

If we eat a specific food until we are sated, our perceived pleasure for that food goes down

Question 23

What is the mesolimbic dopamine pathway? (Reward circuit)

Answer 23

Ventral tagmental to the nucleus accumbens, hippocampus and amygdala.
Feeding triggers dopamine and blocking dopamine leads to food being devalued

Question 24

What are the main features of anorexia nervosa?

Answer 24

Persistant restriction of energy intake to signifanctly lower body weight
Fear of gaining weight
Lack of recognition around their own body weight

Question 25

What are the main features of bulimia?

Answer 25

Reccurent episodes of binge eating
Lack of control over eating
Compensatory behaviour to avoid weight gain

Question 26

What is th main feature of binge eating disorder?

Answer 26

Binge eating more rapidly than usual and feeling discusted with yourself after

Question 27

What are the biological explanations of anorexia?

Answer 27

Hypothalamus dysfunction theory

Biochemical imbalance

Question 28

What is the hypothalamus dysfunction theory of anorexia?

Answer 28

Lack of a weight thermostat and a struggle to support internal body tempreture

BMI is correlated to grey matter in the hypothalamus

Question 29

What is the biochemical imbalance theory of anorexia?

Answer 29

Hypersensativity to dopamine means food triggers anxiety instead of pleasure

Question 30

What is Prader-Willi Syndrome?

Answer 30

Insatiable hunger due to missing chromasome 15 from father