Research by Connecticut College students and a neuroscience professor found that Oreo cookies light up more neurons in the brains of lab rates than cocaine or morphine.
Neuroscience major Jamie Honohan says her idea was to shed light on potential addictiveness of high-fat/high-sugar foods. Students and Professor Joseph Schroeder measured the levels of neuronal activity in the brain’s pleasure center. They found that Oreos activiated significantly more neurons than the two illegal drugs.
Professor Schroeder says the results lend support to the hypothesis that high-fat/high sugar foods are addictive. He presents the research next month in San Diego at the Society for Neuroscience conference.
The research also found that rats break open the Oreo and eat the creamy center first.
