Neural Mechanisms and Alterations of Sweet Sensing: Insights from Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Studies

Long, Tobias; Milbourn, Colette C.; Smith, Alison; Linn Su Khin, Kyaw; Page, Amanda J.; Idris, Iskandar; Yang, Qian; Young, Richard L.; Eldeghaidy, Sally

Abstract

Sweet sensing is a fundamental sensory experience that plays a critical role not only in food preference, reward and dietary behaviour but also in glucose metabolism. Sweet taste receptors (STRs), composed of a heterodimer of taste receptor type 1 member 2 (T1R2) and member 3 (T1R3), are now recognised as being widely distributed throughout the body, including the gastrointestinal tract. Preclinical studies suggest these receptors are central to nutrient and glucose sensing, detecting energy availability and triggering metabolic and behavioural responses to maintain energy balance. Both internal and external factors tightly regulate their signalling pathways, and dysfunction within these systems may contribute to the development of metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has provided valuable insights into the neural mechanisms underlying sweet sensing by mapping brain responses to both lingual/oral and gastrointestinal sweet stimuli. This review highlights key findings from fMRI studies and explores how these neural responses are modulated by metabolic state and individual characteristics such as body mass index, habitual intake and metabolic health. By integrating current evidence, this review advances our understanding of the complex interplay between sweet sensing, brain responses, and health and identifies key gaps and directions for future research in nutritional neuroscience.

Citation

Long, T., Milbourn, C. C., Smith, A., Linn Su Khin, K., Page, A. J., Idris, I., Yang, Q., Young, R. L., & Eldeghaidy, S. (2025). Neural Mechanisms and Alterations of Sweet Sensing: Insights from Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Studies. Life, 15(7), Article 1075. https://doi.org/10.3390/life15071075

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 4, 2025
• Online Publication Date: Jul 5, 2025
• Publication Date: Jul 5, 2025
• Deposit Date: Jul 14, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 15, 2025
• Journal: Life
• Electronic ISSN: 2075-1729
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 15
• Issue: 7
• Article Number: 1075
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/life15071075
• Keywords: neuroimaging; fMRI; BOLD; sweet sensing; sweeteners; obesity; diabetes
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/51606776
• Publisher URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/7/1075