creators_name: Takahashi, Taiki
creators_id: taikitakahashi@gmail.com
type: preprint
datestamp: 2011-12-16 00:08:33
lastmod: 2011-12-16 00:08:33
metadata_visibility: show
title: Toward molecular neuroeconomics of obesity.
subjects: behav-neuro-sci
subjects: bio-behav
subjects: clin-psy
subjects: comp-sci-stat-model
subjects: economics
subjects: neuro-chem
subjects: neuro-endocrin
subjects: neuro-pharm
subjects: neuro-psych
full_text_status: none
keywords: neuroeconomics, obesity, endocrinological economics
abstract: Because obesity is a risk factor for many serious illnesses such as diabetes, better
understandings of obesity and eating disorders have been attracting attention in
neurobiology, psychiatry, and neuroeconomics. This paper presents future study
directions by unifying (i) economic theory of addiction and obesity (Becker and Murphy,
1988; Levy 2002; Dragone 2009), and (ii) recent empirical findings in neuroeconomics
and neurobiology of obesity and addiction. It is suggested that neurobiological
substrates such as adiponectin, dopamine (D2 receptors), endocannabinoids, ghrelin,
leptin, nesfatin-1, norepinephrine, orexin, oxytocin, serotonin, vasopressin, CCK,
GLP-1, MCH, PYY, and stress hormones (e.g., CRF) in the brain (e.g., OFC, VTA,
NAcc, and the hypothalamus) may determine parameters in the economic theory of
obesity. Also, the importance of introducing time-inconsistent and
gain/loss-asymmetrical temporal discounting (intertemporal choice) models based on
Tsallis’ statistics and incorporating time-perception parameters into the neuroeconomic
theory is emphasized. Future directions in the application of the theory to studies in
neuroeconomics and neuropsychiatry of obesity at the molecular level, which may help
medical/psychopharmacological treatments of obesity (e.g., with sibutramine), are
discussed.
date: 2011-11-22
date_type: completed
refereed: TRUE
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citation:   Takahashi, Taiki  (2011) Toward molecular neuroeconomics of obesity.  [Preprint]