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Numerous studies have shown that the activity of the nucleus accumbens, an area in the forefront of the brain, is key to the "high" sought by abusers of cocaine, amphetamines, nicotine and other addictive substances.

Drug intake stimulates receptors in the nucleus accumbens to release high levels of opioids as well as dopamine, the neurochemical thought to be a driving force behind drug-seeking behavior. As the nucleus accumbens is also involved in regulating normal feeding, food might induce similar behavioral responses.

Researchers fed rats a sugary solution for 12-hour periods over a number of weeks, then either abruptly cut off the rodents' supply of the sweet treat or gave them a drug that blocked the brain's opioid receptors.

Compared with rats fed regular chow, sugar-fed rats developed "mild" symptoms indicative of withdrawal, such as teeth chattering, an increased frequency of high-pitched crying and anxiety. And when researchers allowed these rats renewed access to sugar they "binged"--consuming up to 30% of their daily sugar intake within the first hour of re-introduction.

Bingeing, especially, is very important. If you take in a lot of food at once you're going to get a lot of dopamine and opioids all at once--that's a little like getting a small shot of amphetamine and morphine.

Subsequent laboratory investigation of the brains of sugar-fed rats showed an accelerated growth of dopamine receptors in the nucleus accumbens, indicative of a growing dependence on sugar.

The behavior of the rats in the study is similar to patterns seen in drug abuse and withdrawal.

Taste, rather than calories, seems to trigger this neuro-behavorial process. Rats fed saccharin displayed similar dependent behaviors to those fed sugars, even though saccharine contains no calories.