A Study to Characterize Event Related Potential Markers of Attentional Bias Towards Words and Images of Food

GSK is planning to undertake two anti-obesity drug studies in the area of obesity. In addition to assessment by questionnaires, it would be of significant value to incorporate an objective non-interventional measure of cognitive or motivational processing associated with evaluating and responding to food stimuli. Obesity is associated with increased attentional bias to palatable foods. The aims of this protocol are two-fold, first to characterize Event Related Potentials (ERPs) of two common aspects of food stimuli relevant to eating disorders -presence of food and its palatability, and secondly, to assess the modulation of these ERPs by appetite. Following a successful completion of this study, it is the intention to use the paradigm developed in future studies in the area of obesity.