Krispy Kreme donuts play key role in neurological research, shock! New research from Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine sheds light on why our brains kick into action at the sight of sweet fried dough. Subjects taking part were tested twice - after chomping down as many as eight Krispy Kreme donuts, and after fasting for eight hours. They were then shown pictures of donuts and screwdrivers, while having their brains scanned. After the eating binge, their brains registered little interest in the donut images, while the opposite was true following the fast. "The brain is able to detect what is motivationally significant. It says, not only am I hungry, but here is food," said senior author Marsel Mesulam, professor of the bloomin’ obvious.