Recent years have witnessed an increased interest in understanding how we relate to food in a world saturated with ultra-processed foods, marked by haste immediacy and a constant bombardment of advertising stimuli. When we make food choices, we do not always decide with calm and reflection, and often we are not conscious of the mechanisms that influence our choices.
For these types of decisions, our brain relies on two constantly interacting systems: the impulsive system, which responds quickly and automatically to stimuli such as smell, appearance, availability, or marketing; and the reflective system, which is slower and more deliberate, allowing us to exercise control, assess consequences and plan alternatives. When both systems are balanced, our food decisions tend to align more closely with our real needs and long-term health goals. However, constant exposure to stimuli that activate the impulsive system can make it more powerful, hindering the regulatory function of the reflective system.
The PNINSULA research group at the CIMCYC, in collaboration with Monash University (Australia) and the University of Exeter (United Kingdom), has investigated how training specific cognitive skills can modify the function of these brain systems. These published results are promising: a four-week cognitive intervention program has shown significant improvements in dietary self-regulation, with reduced snacking between meals, a decrease in body mass index (BMI), and other indicators, such as waist circumference, that were maintained even six months later.
Currently, this group is investigating the efficacy of two new intervention studies that combine cognitive training with novel techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). This non-invasive tool allows for the modulation of brain activity, which could enhance the effects of cognitive training, potentially achieving faster and more lasting benefits. One of the studies is aimed at individuals who experience binge eating and the other at individuals with excess weight who wish to modify their eating habits. Both programs last two weeks and require in-person attendance at the CIMCYC (Granada).
These projects also include a comprehensive evaluation of multiple factors influencing eating behavior, incorporating cerebral, cognitive, emotional, behavioral, physiological and genetic measures. This broad vision represents a decisive advance in fully understanding the processes that determine how we eat and what makes it difficult for us to maintain healthy habits over time.
Beyond strict diets or universal advice, this approach highlights that our food choices do not solely depend on willpower but are profoundly influenced by automatic and unconscious neurocognitive processes. Understanding these mechanisms opens the door to more personalized, effective and sustainable interventions, focused not only on what we eat but also on how we think, feel and decide around food.
If you are interested in participating, you can register at the following link: https://encuestas.ugr.es/index.php/297665?lang=es
References
Bernat-Villena, A., Pérez-Comino, F. J., Becerra-Losada, M., Algarra-López, L. S., Caracuel, A., & Vilar-López, R. (2025). Intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) and inhibitory control training for excess weight treatment: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial (InhibE). BMC psychology, 13(1), 1-14. DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02556-9
González-González, R., Solier-López, L., Vilar-López, R., Verdejo-García, A., Navarro-Pérez, C. F., & Caracuel, A. (2025). Online Mental Contrasting with Implementation Intentions for changing snacking behavior and reducing body mass index in people with excess weight: a randomized controlled trial. Appetite, 214, 108209. DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2025.108209
Solier-López, L., González-González, R., Caracuel, A., Kakoschke, N., Lawrence, N., & Vilar-López, R. (2022). A program for the comprehensive cognitive training of excess Weight (TRAINEP): the study protocol for a randomized, controlled trial. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(14), 8447. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148447
Contact
Raquel Vilar López @email
Alfonso Caracuel Romero @email
Proyectos en marcha: @email