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Vagotomy
A surgical procedure involves removing all or a part of the vagus nerve that innervates the stomach, interrupting the nerve's signal transmission (Rabben et al., 2016).
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Encyclopedia of Nutritional Psychology
Explore clear, research-informed definitions of key concepts connecting nutrition, mental health, behavior, and psychological well-being.
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About the ENP
A trusted guide to nutritional psychology terminology
Nutritional psychology examines how dietary patterns, nutrients, food-related behaviors, and psychological factors interact with mental health and well-being. Launched by the Center for Nutritional Psychology in 2024, the Encyclopedia of Nutritional Psychology defines the terms, mechanisms, processes, and research areas shaping this growing field.
Created for students, educators, researchers, healthcare professionals, and curious readers, the ENP includes hundreds of clear, research-informed entries. Content is written and regularly updated by contributors across relevant scientific disciplines, with new entries and major revisions reviewed by the CNP Encyclopedia Editorial Board before publication.
The encyclopedia helps readers understand terminology and foundational concepts. For deeper exploration of the studies behind those concepts, visit the Nutritional Psychology Research Library .
Encyclopedia entries
Select a term to read its definition and supporting context.
Vagus nerve
The vagus nerve is the 10th cranial nerve, one of the longest and most complex. It originates in the brainstem and travels to the neck, thorax, and abdomen, connecting the…
Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA)
The VTA is a dopamine-producing region located in the midbrain. It plays a central role in the brain's reward system by projecting to areas such as the nucleus accumbens, prefrontal…
Visceral Eating Pleasure
The short-lived hedonic relief created by the satisfaction of eating impulses. Visceral eating pleasure is the by-product of relieving a visceral urge, often beyond the eaters' volitional control. It can…
Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
A measurement scale (i.e., a validated questionnaire) is used within the fields of psychology and nutrition to measure one’s subjective experience or attitude to a stimulus by indicating one’s level…
Visual Hunger
The physiological and neurophysiological changes involving “visual hunger” experienced in an organism in response to increased exposure to images of desirable food (Spence et al., 2016).
Visual Satiety
Visual satiety refers to the phenomenon where the pleasantness of a food's appearance decreases after repeated exposure, even if the taste or smell hasn't changed. This decline in visual appeal can…
Volition
Volition is the cognitive process of making a conscious decision and acting on it.
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Academic oversight
Editorial Board
Meet the editors and subject specialists supporting the Encyclopedia of Nutritional Psychology.
Executive and Associate Editors
Co-Principal Editors
Ephi Morphew-Lu
The Center for Nutritional Psychology
Shereen Behairy
The Center for Nutritional Psychology
Associate Editors
Nabila Pervaiz
The Center for Nutritional Psychology
Technical Support
Tahir Yasin
The Center for Nutritional Psychology
Subject Editors
Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Child Psychology
Dr. Vishruti Patel, PsyD
Clinical Psychology
Psychology
Dr. Vladimir Hedrih, PhD
University of Niš, Faculty of Philosophy, Department of Psychology
Nutritional Immunology
Dr. Emilia Vassiloupoulou, PhD, BSc
Department of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, School of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece and Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy
Nutrition and Dietetics
Eileen Santana RD, CDN
The Center for Nutritional Psychology
