EEG, ERPS AND FOOD-CONSUMPTION

Baseline electroencephalographic (EEG) and auditory event-related brai n potentials (ERPs) were assessed in subjects before and after consumi ng food and under eyes open and closed recording conditions in an atte mpt to replicate and extend previous food-ERP effects. Subjects were a ssessed the morning after fasting from the previous night, before and after eating a standard lunch. delta- band EEG spectral power decrease d and theta- and early alpha-band frequency increased after food consu mption. However? in contrast to previous reports, P300 amplitude was u naffected by food consumption and peak latency increased. The strength of the correlational association between background EEG activity and P300 measures decreased for the delta- and theta- bands, but increased for the early and late alpha- bands. The findings suggest that food c onsumption affects general arousal, rather than specific cognitive EEG or ERP factors and are discussed with respect to previous EEG-ERP fin dings on food intake. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserv ed.