Neural Stimulation of Prefrontal Cortex Improves Food‐Related Memory Suppression

OBJECTIVE: Individuals with obesity often struggle to resist the temptation of palatable food, which may be linked to impaired inhibitory control-a crucial cognitive function for regulating eating behavior. Enhancing inhibitory control over food-related memories has been proposed as a potential intervention strategy for obesity. The right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) plays a key role in regulating reward-driven impulses. However, it remains unclear whether neuromodulating the right dlPFC can selectively strengthen inhibitory control over food-related memories, particularly in individuals with overweight/obesity status who exhibit heightened reward sensitivity and diminished executive function. METHODS: This study employed a food Think/No-Think (TNT) training combined with HD-tDCS targeting the right dlPFC to assess its effects on inhibitory control over food-related memory in individuals with overweight/obesity. RESULTS: Both groups with healthy weight and overweight/obesity demonstrated significant improvements in memory suppression following anodal stimulation. Notably, individuals with overweight/obesity exhibited greater reductions in memory intrusion at the early stage, suggesting they may benefit more from anodal stimulation in resisting memory intrusions. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the potential of combining neuromodulation with cognitive training as a promising intervention for obesity, providing both theoretical insights and empirical evidence for future prevention and treatment approaches.