Cue-potentiated feeding in rodents: Implications for weight regulation in obesogenic environments

Cue-potentiated feeding (CPF) describes instances where food intake is increased by exposure to conditioned cues associated with food, often in the absence of hunger. CPF effects have been reported in a range of experimental protocols developed by researchers working across diverse fields spanning behavioural neuroscience, social psychology and ecology. Here we review the evolution of research on cue-potentiated feeding in animal models to identify important behavioural parameters and key neural circuits and pharmacological systems underlying the effect. Overall, evidence indicates that social, discrete and contextual stimuli can be used to elicit CPF effects across multiple species, though effects are often subtle and sensitive to procedural variables. While regular exposure to food cues is thought to be a key risk factor for overeating in so-called ‘obesogenic’ environments, further work is needed to identify whether CPF promotes positive energy balance and weight gain over the longer term. We suggest several methodological and conceptual areas for inquiry to elucidate the contribution of CPF to the regulation of food choice and energy intake.