Obesity increases the prevalence of cognitive impairment. In particular, it can promote disturbances of contextual memory dependent on the hippocampus. Obesity is also associated with negative emotional consequences. However, no clinical study has so far evaluated the effect of obesity on emotional memory, a function underpinned by the amygdala. Recent studies indicate that obese children and adolescents exhibit memory disturbances. Adolescence represents a crucial period in the development of the hippocampus and the amygdala, two brain regions implicated in memory and emotional functions for the rest of life. Changes in connectivity during development, whether structural or functional, are major before the age of 10 and progressive and minor until the age of 30. Disturbances of this amygdala-hippocampal functional connectivity during adolescence have been associated with the development of neuropsychiatric disorders. However, the impact of childhood obesity on functional amygdala-hippocampus connectivity has still not been evaluated. The first aim of the study is to compare the functional connectivity of the hippocampus and the amygdala measured during the realization of an emotional associative memory task or at rest before and after the task between obese teenagers and control teenagers and how closely it is related to emotional memory performances. Secondly, it will be determined whether the level of functional connectivity between the hippocampus and the amygdala is related to cognitive performances and eating symptomatology in obese teenagers.
Recent studies indicate that obese teenagers exhibit memory disturbances. Adolescence represents a crucial period in the development of the hippocampus and the amygdala, necessary for the implementation of memory and emotional functions for the rest of life. Disturbances of the interaction between amygdala and hippocampus during adolescence have been associated with the development of neuropsychiatric disorders. However, the impact of juvenile obesity on functional amygdala-hippocampus connectivity has not been evaluated yet. The main objective of this study is to compare the emotional memory performance and the level of functional connectivity between the hippocampus and the amygdala during the realization of an emotional associative memory task, in obese and control adolescents.