Nutritional intelligence? Hyper-palatable foods do not dominate evaluations of familiar snacks in a Finnish sample
Arsene Kanyamibwa, Manon Chédeville, Sherwin Nedaei Janbesarei, Annette Horstmann
Arsene Kanyamibwa
PhD Candidate
Contact Information
Address
University of Helsinki Behavioural & Brain Sciences Faculty of Medicine Department of Psychology and Logopedics Haartmaninkatu 3 00290 Helsinki Finland
About
Arsene earned a B.Sc. in Cellular Biology and Physiology from the University Clermont Auvergne (UCA) in France, followed by an M.Sc. in Biology and Health Sciences from the University of Nantes. For his Master’s thesis, he investigated how modern macronutrient combinations influence food valuation. Inspired by previous research from Canada and Germany, he joined the Modern Diet and Physiology Research Center in New Haven, USA, to replicate earlier findings and examine how macronutrient content and composition (carbohydrates and fats) affect food choice, reward processes, and their underlying neural mechanisms, with a particular focus on the U.S. population. After completing his studies, Arsene pursued a Master's-level degree in clinical research and worked as a clinical research associate trainee, contributing to several international clinical trials.
Curriculum Vitae
Education
M.Sc Level Certificate as a Clinical Research Associate
Institut Léonard de Vinci (ILV), Paris, France
2020
M.Sc in Biology and Health Science
Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
2019
B.Sc in Cell Biology and Physiology
Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France
2017
Experience
Doctoral Researcher
O'Brain Lab, Department of Psychology and Logopedics, University of Helsinki, Finland
2021 — Present
Investigating the role of dopamine in diet and obesity, with focus on how macronutrient content and composition affect food choice, reward processes, and their underlying neural mechanisms
Clinical Research Associate (Trainee)
Simbec Orion CRO, Paris, France
2020
Contributing to international clinical trials and pharmaceutical research
Skills & Expertise
NeuroscienceScientific WritingClinical ResearchBehavioral ExperimentsData AnalysisResearch Design
Research Output
Filter by Year
Genetic architecture of ultra-processed food consumption links neurodevelopmental and metabolic pathways to habitual diet
Filip Morys, Daiva E. Nielsen, Lang Liu, Arsene Kanyamibwa, Atheer Attar, Tongzhu Meng, Mari Shishikura, Annette Horstmann, Alain Dagher
FinnFoodPics: A database of Finnish snack foods for investigating modern eating behaviors
Arsene Kanyamibwa, Hendrik Hartmann, Daniel Fängström, William Vikatmaa, Beyza Pocan, Emily E. Perszyk, Xue S. Davis, Artemii Nikitin, Patrik Wikman, Tiina Pellinen, Niina E. Kaartinen, Ursula Schwab, Annette Horstmann
Ultra-processed food consumption affects structural integrity of feeding-related brain regions independent of and via adiposity
Filip Morys, Arsene Kanyamibwa, Daniel Fängström, Max Tweedale, Alexandre Pastor-Bernier, Houman Azizi, Lang Liu, Annette Horstmann, Alain Dagher
Working memory gating in obesity is moderated by striatal dopaminergic gene variants
Nadine Herzog, Hendrik Hartmann, Lieneke Katharina Janssen, Arsene Kanyamibwa, Maria Waltmann, Peter Kovacs, Lorenz Deserno, Sean Fallon, Arno Villringer, Annette Horstmann
Nutrient scoring for the DEGS1-FFQ – from food intake to nutrient intake
Ronja Thieleking, Lennard Schneidewind, Arsene Kanyamibwa, Hendrik Hartmann, Annette Horstmann, A. Veronica Witte, Evelyn Medawar
Fat and Carbohydrate Interact to Potentiate Food Reward in Healthy Weight but Not in Overweight or Obesity
Emily E. Perszyk, Zach Hutelin, Jessica Trinh, Arsene Kanyamibwa, Sophie Fromm, Xue S. Davis, Kathryn M. Wall, Kyle D. Flack, Alexandra G. DiFeliceantonio, Dana M. Small
Development of MacroPics: A novel food picture set to dissociate the effects of carbohydrate and fat on eating behaviors
Sophie Fromm, Emily E. Perszyk, Arsene Kanyamibwa, Kathryn M. Wall, Zach Hutelin, Jessica Trinh, Xue S. Davis, Barry G. Green, Kyle D. Flack, Alexandra DiFeliceantonio, Dana M. Small
No evidence for an association between obesity and milkshake liking
Kathryn M. Wall, Michael C. Farruggia, Emily E. Perszyk, Arsene Kanyamibwa, Sophie Fromm, Xue S. Davis, Jelle R. Dalenberg, Alexandra G. DiFeliceantonio, Dana M. Small
Tempting tastes in focus: A picture set of high-fat/high-carbohydrate foods for the population of Finland (Final version)
Kanyamibwa A., Hartmann H., Fängström D., Vikatmaa W., Pocan B., Perszyk EP., Davis XS., Nikitin A., Wikman., Pellinen T., Kaartinen NE., Schwab U., DiFeliceantonio AG., Small DM., Horstmann A.
Nordic Obesity Meeting (NOM24), Helsinki, Finland•2024
Poster presented at the Nordic Obesity Meeting (NOM24), Helsinki, Finland
Tempting tastes in focus: A picture set of high-fat/high-carbohydrate foods for the Finnish population
Kanyamibwa A., Hartmann H., Fängström D., Perszyk EP., Davis XS., DiFeliceantonio AG., Small DM., Horstmann A.
Brain & Mind Symposium, Helsinki, Finland•2023
Poster presented at the annual Brain & Mind Symposium, Helsinki, Finland
Tempting tastes in focus: A picture set of high-fat/high-carbohydrate foods for the Finnish population
Kanyamibwa A., Hartmann H., Fängström D., Perszyk EP., Davis XS., DiFeliceantonio AG., Small DM., Horstmann A.
European Brain and Behaviour Society (50th Meeting), Amsterdam, Netherlands•2023
Poster presented at the 50th meeting of the European Brain and Behaviour Society, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Can macronutrient combination affect food reward?
Kanyamibwa A., Hartmann H., Fängström D., Perszyk EP., Davis XS., DiFeliceantonio AG., Small DM., Horstmann A.
University of Helsinki Department of Psychology and Logopedics annual retreat, Tvärminne, Finland•2023
Poster presented at the University of Helsinki Department of Psychology and Logopedics annual retreat, Tvärminne, Finland
PSY-384 Practical Course in Experimental Psychology
University of Helsinki, Faculty of Medicine, Meilhati Campus•2022
Supervisor for PSY-384 Practical Course in Experimental Psychology
PSY-384 Practical Course in Experimental Psychology
University of Helsinki, Faculty of Medicine, Meilhati Campus•2023
Supervisor for PSY-384 Practical Course in Experimental Psychology
PSY-384 Practical Course in Experimental Psychology
University of Helsinki, Faculty of Medicine, Meilhati Campus•2024
Supervisor for PSY-384 Practical Course in Experimental Psychology
PSYK-496 Beyond the Belly - on the psychology of eating
University of Helsinki, Faculty of Medicine, Meilhati Campus•2023
Guest Lecturer for PSYK-496 Beyond the Belly - on the psychology of eating
PSYK-496 Beyond the Belly - on the psychology of eating
University of Helsinki, Faculty of Medicine, Meilhati Campus•2024
Guest Lecturer for PSYK-496 Beyond the Belly - on the psychology of eating
News & Updates
O’BRAIN Lab at the International Conference on Motivational and Cognitive Control
Sherwin Nedaei Janbesaraei and Arsene Kanyamibwa represented the O’BRAIN Lab at the International Conference on Motivational and Cognitive Control in Helsinki.
Arsene Kanyamibwa on The Science Basement Podcast - Discussing Food Reward and Obesity Research
Tune in to hear Arsene Kanyamibwa discuss his cutting-edge research on food reward, eating behavior, and individual differences in obesity on the latest The Science Basement Podcast episode!
The O’BRAIN Lab at FENS Forum 2026
The O’BRAIN Lab took part in FENS Forum 2026 in Barcelona, with a symposium talk and two poster presentations.
Arsene Kanyamibwa on "Is Obesity a Choice?" - New Article in The Science Basement
Read Arsene Kanyamibwa's thought-provoking article in The Science Basement exploring the complex factors behind obesity beyond personal choice.
Department Retreat 2026
Highlights from our 2026 Department Retreat at beautiful Tvärminne Zoological Station.
The University of Helsinki celebrates 386 years !!!
The University of Helsinki marks its 386th anniversary with a festive celebration. 🎉🎊