Your Brain Might Not Know the Difference Between Real Sugar and Artificial Sweeteners, Study Finds

Your Brain Might Not Know the Difference Between Real Sugar and Artificial Sweeteners, Study Finds

The findings suggest that perception and labeling can measurably shape how people experience sweet foods and drinks.Credit: nensuria / Getty ImagesKey PointsNew research shows that expectations strongly shape how we perceive sweetness — people often believe they’re tasting real sugar when told they are, even if the drink contains artificial sweetener.Brain imaging reveals that simply expecting sugar can activate reward centers, making artificial…