The Default Mode Network (DMN) refers to a network of brain regions that are typically active when an individual is at rest or not focused on the external environment. These regions are involved in self-referential thoughts, introspection, and daydreaming.

Delirium is a neurocognitive disorder characterized by an acute change in mental status associated with changes in attention, consciousness, and cognitive performance (Flaherty, 2007).

Dementia is an umbrella category of neurocognitive disorders characterized by a progressive and chronic decline in cognitive functioning that impairs a person’s ability to function (Gamir-Morralla et al., 2017).

A mental health disorder causing significant impairment in daily life that is characterized by persistently low mood or loss of interest in activities, changes in sleep, appetite, energy level, concentration, behavior, and/or self-esteem. Depression ranges from mild to severe impairment, referred to as clinical depression, also known as major depression or major depressive disorder (MDD). MDD isn’t the same as depression caused by a loss, such as the death of a loved one, or a medical condition, such as a thyroid disorder. The mainstay of treatment is usually medication, talk therapy, or a combination of the two (definition by Mayo.org).

Descriptive social norms reflect what most group members actually do (i.e., ‘most young people eat less than the recommended amount of vegetables’). Thus, a descriptive norm involves one’s perception of what most others actually do.

Developmental programming is based on the premise that early life experiences can have long-term effects on health and disease risk. It refers to the process by which environmental factors during critical periods of development, such as prenatal or early postnatal life, shape the structure and function of organs and tissues, influencing the risk of developing chronic diseases later in life.

The sensory-perceptual aspects of our diet-related experience, including sight, smell, taste, and sound that influence our dietary intake.

The Diet-Mental Health Relationship (DMHR) is an umbrella term used within the field of nutritional psychology. It represents a multifaceted concept serving as a conceptual framework encompassing the intricate and multidirectional links between dietary habits and psychological well-being. It involves the influence of food choices on psychological, cognitive, behavioral, interoceptive, sensory-perceptual, and psychosocial processes that impact our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and experiences. 

The Diet-Psychosocial Relationship (DPR) delves into the intricate interplay of various influencers such as peers, family, culture, community, society, religion, and socioeconomic factors in shaping individuals’ dietary intake behaviors, preferences, and choices.

Dietary acculturation is the process by which individuals or groups from one culture come into contact with and adopt elements of another culture specifically related to diet. This exchange can involve changes in food choices, eating habits, and culinary practices, as individuals or groups adjust to and integrate aspects of a new dietary environment.