Why My Brain is Obsessed With Cookies

I know not everyone loves cookies. But I do, in a deep and even scientific way. Whenever I’m walking down Taylor Street, I always pass Insomnia Cookies. It feels like a battle against me and the store door, and no, it’s not just a lack of self-control. It’s neuroscience. 

Image Source: Cookie Monster via Sesame Street

When I see a warm chocolate chip cookie, my brain releases dopamine, the chemical tied to reward and motivation. Sugar and fat are energy-dense, which is what kept our ancestors going. So, my brain doesn’t see a cookie. It sees success. Neuroscientists have actually proven this. Using fMRI scans, researchers found that sugar triggers dopamine release in a part of the brain called the nucleus accumbens (the reward center). It’s the same area that responds to things like drugs and other highly addictive substances or experiences. 

I’m not saying my chocolate chip cookies are heroin. I’m just saying that my brain reacts in a way as if something very important is happening. Some research even suggests that the more sugar we eat, the more our brain adapts, meaning it can take more to get the same “wow” factor. This explains why one cookie magically turns into two.

But cookies aren’t just about the sugar. They’re about the memories and correlations they hold. The smell of warm chocolate activates parts of the brain tied to emotion and nostalgia, like the limbic system. That’s why a cookie doesn’t just taste good. It feels comforting. 

I realize now that Cookie Monster wasn’t being dramatic. He was just neurologically wired for cookies (like me).