University of São Paulo study finds brain stimulation reduces food cravings

Researchers from the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP) have conducted a pilot study demonstrating that five days of non-invasive brain stimulation, combined with nutritional education, can reduce intense food cravings in women with obesity. The study, published in the journal Physiology & Behavior, targeted the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex—an area of the brain involved in decision-making and self-regulation that may show reduced activity in individuals with obesity.

The technique used was transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a painless method that applies a low-intensity electrical current to the scalp via saline-soaked electrodes to modulate neuronal excitability. The investigation was supported by FAPESP. This research addresses obesity as a major global public health issue, with projections suggesting hundreds of millions of people will be affected by various grades of obesity by 2030.