We have recently studied cognitive processing as well as regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) during non-nutritive gastric distension (Stephan E et al., [Abstract] Annual Meeting of the SfN, New Orleans, LA, November 2003; Stephan E et al., J Gastrointest Surg 2003,7:740). In this study, we examined the correlation of cognitive responses to and brain circuits involved in gastric balloon distension. In 18 healthy young women, we estimated rCBF with positron emission tomography (15O-water) and recorded cognitive responses on six visual analog scales (VAS) during gastric balloon inflation and deflation. Cognitive responses were recorded for fullness (target sensation), hunger, sleepiness, nausea, gastric discomfort, and tension. We are currently working on correlation analyses of areas of brain activation with VAS data. Results will be interpreted with respect to the concept of interoception (Craig AD, Nat Rev Neurosci,3:655) and within the framework of orbital and medial prefrontal cortical connections (öngür...