Eating Disorders

Imaging Studies of Eating Disorders

Eating disorders like Bulimia Nervosa (BN) and Anorexia Nervosa (AN) most commonly onset during adolescence.  During this time, the brain is developing important connections between the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the basal ganglia that will improve  executive functioning, including behavioral inhibition.   Behavioral inhibition is relevant to Eating Disorders because BN represents a disinhibited response to food, which often results in binge eating. Clinical studies demonstrate that levels of disinhibition  related to eating and other behaviors  (drug use, sexual behavior, shoplifting, self-injury) predict treatment outcome in BN.  On the other hand, adolescents with AN are usually behaviorally inhibited, anxious, and overly controlled.  Our functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) study of individuals with BN and AN , as well as healthy volunteers,  may shed light on the neurobiological basis for these disorders on a continuum of inhibition and disinhibition.  No fMRI studies of adolescents with eating disorders have been reported.  Using the Go/NoGo paradigm as a measure of disinhibition , we hope to explore alterations in brain activation  in  BN and  AN,  to further our understanding of how best to treat these disorders. .

For further information about our fMRI study and additional studies exploring treatment for AN, please contact Sarah Forsberg at (650) 723-9182 or sarah523@stanford.edu.