scholarly journals Aberrant neural representation of food stimuli in women with acute anorexia nervosa predicts treatment outcome and is improved in weight restored individuals

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilka Boehm ◽  
Holger Mohr ◽  
Joseph A. King ◽  
Julius Steding ◽  
Daniel Geisler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Treatment Outcome ◽  
Classification Accuracy ◽  
Recovery Process ◽  
Reward Processing ◽  
Neural Representation ◽  
Neural Responses ◽  
Visual Areas ◽  
Attentional Engagement ◽  
Matched Samples

AbstractAnorexia nervosa (AN) has been associated with altered reward processing. We recently reported greater neural response in secondary visual areas when processing visual food stimuli in acutely underweight AN patients (acAN). In order to examine whether the observed alterations are indicative of acute undernutrition or a potential trait marker of AN, we set out to assess neural responses in acAN and in individuals weight-recovered from AN (recAN). FMRI data were collected from a total of 126 female volunteers, 35 acAN, 33 recAN, and 58 age-matched healthy controls (HC) while they viewed streams of food, social and neutral stimuli. A standard general linear model (GLM) was used to interrogate neural responses to the different stimuli in recAN vs. age-matched HC. Moreover, within-subject multivoxel pattern analyses (MVPA) in the two matched samples (acAN/HC and recAN/HC) were used to estimate neural representation of food vs. neutral, and social vs. neutral stimuli. A multiple regression analysis was conducted to test associations between the accuracy of the neural representation and treatment outcome. The GLM revealed no group differences between recAN and HC. The MVPAs showed greater classification accuracy of food stimuli in the posterior fusiform gyrus in acAN but not recAN. Classification accuracy was associated with better treatment outcome. Our findings suggest that the neural representation of food stimuli is altered in secondary visual areas in acAN and normalizes with weight recovery. Possibly this altered representation reflects attentional engagement motivating food intake, which may promote the recovery process.

scholarly journals Adapting a neuroscience-informed intervention to alter reward mechanisms of anorexia nervosa: a novel direction for future research

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann F. Haynos ◽  
Lisa M. Anderson ◽  
Autumn J. Askew ◽  
Michelle G. Craske ◽  
Carol B. Peterson
Keyword(s):  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Eating Disorder ◽  
Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Reward Processing ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Restrictive Eating ◽  
Eating Disorder Symptoms ◽  
Mood And Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Reward Responsivity ◽  
Eating Disorder Behaviors

AbstractAccumulating psychobiological data implicate reward disturbances in the persistence of anorexia nervosa (AN). Evidence suggests that individuals with AN demonstrate decision-making deficits similar to those with mood and anxiety disorders that cause them to under-respond to many conventionally rewarding experiences (e.g., eating, interacting socially). In contrast, unlike individuals with other psychiatric disorders, individuals with AN simultaneously over-respond to rewards associated with eating-disorder behaviors (e.g., restrictive eating, exercising). This pattern of reward processing likely perpetuates eating-disorder symptoms, as the rewards derived from eating-disorder behaviors provide temporary relief from the anhedonia associated with limited responsivity to other rewards. Positive Affect Treatment (PAT) is a cognitive-behavioral intervention designed to target reward deficits that contribute to anhedonia in mood and anxiety disorders, including problems with reward anticipation, experiencing, and learning. PAT has been found to promote reward responsivity and clinical improvement in mood and anxiety disorders. This manuscript will: (1) present empirical evidence supporting the promise of PAT as an intervention for AN; (2) highlight nuances in the maintaining processes of AN that necessitate adaptations of PAT for this population; and (3) suggest future directions in research on PAT and other reward-based treatments that aim to enhance clinical outcomes for AN.

Reward processing in anorexia nervosa

2012 ◽  
Vol 50 (5) ◽  
pp. 567-575 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Keating ◽  
Alan J. Tilbrook ◽  
Susan L. Rossell ◽  
Peter G. Enticott ◽  
Paul B. Fitzgerald
Keyword(s):  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Reward Processing

Auditory Imagery Modulates Frequency-specific Areas in the Human Auditory Cortex

2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jihoon Oh ◽  
Jae Hyung Kwon ◽  
Po Song Yang ◽  
Jaeseung Jeong
Keyword(s):  
Auditory Cortex ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Primary Auditory Cortex ◽  
Auditory Imagery ◽  
Neural Responses ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Visual Areas ◽  
Control Functional ◽  
Response Area

Neural responses in early sensory areas are influenced by top–down processing. In the visual system, early visual areas have been shown to actively participate in top–down processing based on their topographical properties. Although it has been suggested that the auditory cortex is involved in top–down control, functional evidence of topographic modulation is still lacking. Here, we show that mental auditory imagery for familiar melodies induces significant activation in the frequency-responsive areas of the primary auditory cortex (PAC). This activation is related to the characteristics of the imagery: when subjects were asked to imagine high-frequency melodies, we observed increased activation in the high- versus low-frequency response area; when the subjects were asked to imagine low-frequency melodies, the opposite was observed. Furthermore, we found that A1 is more closely related to the observed frequency-related modulation than R in tonotopic subfields of the PAC. Our findings suggest that top–down processing in the auditory cortex relies on a mechanism similar to that used in the perception of external auditory stimuli, which is comparable to early visual systems.

scholarly journals Lifetime Weight Characteristics of Adult Inpatients With Severe Anorexia Nervosa: Maximal Lifetime BMI Predicts Treatment Outcome

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa-Katrin Kaufmann ◽  
Hanspeter Moergeli ◽  
Gabriella Franca Milos
Keyword(s):  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Treatment Outcome ◽  
Strong Predictor ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
The Body ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Weight Suppression ◽  
Positive Treatment

Background: The body mass index is a key predictor of treatment outcome in patients with anorexia nervosa. In adolescents, higher premorbid BMI is a strong predictor of a favorable treatment outcome. It is unclear whether this relationship holds true for adults with anorexia nervosa. Here, we examine adult patients with AN and investigate the lowest and highest lifetime BMI and weight suppression as predisposing factors for treatment outcome.Methods: We included 107 patients aged 17–56 with anorexia nervosa and tracked their BMI from admission to inpatient treatment, through discharge, to follow-up at 1–6 years. Illness history, including lowest and highest lifetime BMI were assessed prior to admission. We used multiple linear regression models with minimal or maximal lifetime BMI or weight suppression at admission as independent variables to predict BMI at admission, discharge and follow-up, while controlling for patients' age, sex, and duration of illness.Results: Low minimal BMI had a negative influence on the weight at admission, which in turn resulted in a lower BMI at discharge. Higher maximal BMI had a substantial positive influence on BMI at discharge and follow-up. Weight suppression was highly correlated with maximal BMI and showed similar effects to maximal BMI.Conclusion: Our findings strongly support a relationship between low minimal lifetime BMI and lower BMI at admission, and between higher maximal lifetime BMI or weight suppression and a positive treatment outcome, even years after discharge. Overall, maximal BMI emerged as the most important factor in predicting the weight course in adults with AN.

scholarly journals Stigmatization toward People with Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge Eating Disorder: A Scoping Review

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 2834
Author(s):  
Lisa Brelet ◽  
Valentin Flaudias ◽  
Michel Désert ◽  
Sébastien Guillaume ◽  
Pierre-Michel Llorca ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Eating Disorders ◽  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Eating Disorder ◽  
Bulimia Nervosa ◽  
Binge Eating ◽  
Binge Eating Disorder ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Recovery Process

Research about stigmatization in eating disorders (EDs) has highlighted stereotypes, prejudices, and discrimination against people with EDs, as well as their harmful effects on them, including self-stigma and a difficult recovery process. Whereas a recent review focused on the consequences of ED stigma, our work aimed to provide a broader synthesis of ED stigma, including its consequences, but also its content and distribution. More precisely, we focused on three EDs—namely, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. Based on a systematic search of four major databases in psychology, the present scoping review includes 46 studies published between 2004 and 2021. We did not conduct any quality assessment of the studies included, because our aim was to provide a wide-ranging overview of these topics instead of an appraisal of evidence answering a precise research question. The review confirmed the existence of a common ED stigma: all individuals affected by EDs reviewed here were perceived as responsible for their situation, and elicited negative emotions and social distance. However, our review also depicted a specific stigma content associated with each ED. In addition, the demographic characteristics of the stigmatizing individuals had a notable influence on the extent of ED stigma: men, young adults, and low-income individuals appeared to be the most stigmatizing toward individuals with EDs. It is important to note that ED stigma had a negative effect on individuals’ eating disorders, psychological wellbeing, and treatment-seeking behavior. There is an urgent need for further research on the adverse effects of ED stigma and its prevention.

scholarly journals The Role of Social Reward and Corticostriatal Connectivity in Substance Use

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Sazhin ◽  
Angelique Frazier ◽  
Caleb River Haynes ◽  
Camille Johnston ◽  
Iris Ka-Yi Chat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Social Context ◽  
Orbitofrontal Cortex ◽  
Strategic Behavior ◽  
Reward Processing ◽  
Reward Sensitivity ◽  
Social Reward ◽  
Neural Responses ◽  
Social Stimuli ◽  
Neuroimaging Study

This report describes an ongoing R03 grant that explores the links between trait reward sensitivity, substance use, and neural responses to social and nonsocial reward. Although previous research has shown that trait reward sensitivity and neural responses to reward are linked to substance use, whether this relationship is impacted by how people process social stimuli remains unclear. We are investigating these questions via a neuroimaging study with college-aged participants, using individual difference measures that examine the relation between substance use, social context, and trait reward sensitivity with tasks that measure reward anticipation, strategic behavior, social reward consumption, and the influence of social context on reward processing. We predict that substance use will be tied to distinct patterns of striatal dysfunction. Specifically, reward hyposensitive individuals will exhibit blunted striatal responses to social and non-social reward and enhanced connectivity with the orbitofrontal cortex; in contrast, reward hypersensitive individuals will exhibit enhanced striatal responses to social and non-social reward and blunted connectivity with the orbitofrontal cortex. We also will examine the relation between self-reported reward sensitivity, substance use, and striatal responses to social reward and social context. We predict that individuals reporting the highest levels of substance use will show exaggerated striatal responses to social reward and social context, independent of self-reported reward sensitivity. Examining corticostriatal responses to reward processing will help characterize the relation between reward sensitivity, social context and substance use while providing a foundation for understanding risk factors and isolating neurocognitive mechanisms that may be targeted to increase the efficacy of interventions.

scholarly journals The anticipation and perception of affective touch in women with and recovered from Anorexia Nervosa

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Crucianelli ◽  
Benedetta Demartini ◽  
Diana Goeta ◽  
Veronica Nisticò ◽  
Alkistis Saramandi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Reward Processing ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Ct Afferents ◽  
Tactile Stimuli ◽  
Successful Recovery ◽  
Secondary Result ◽  
Ct System ◽  
Tactile System

AbstractDisruptions in reward processing and anhedonia have long being considered as possible contributors to the aetiology and maintenance of Anorexia nervosa (AN). Recently, interoceptive deficits have also been observed in AN, including reduced tactile pleasure. However, the extent to which this tactile anhedonia is specifically liked to an impairment in a specialized, interoceptive C tactile system originating at the periphery, or a more top-down mechanism in the processing of pleasant tactile stimuli remains debated. Here, we investigated two related hypotheses. First, we examined whether the differences, between patients with AN and healthy controls in the perception of pleasantness of touch stimuli delivered in a CT-optimal manner versus a CT non-optimal manner would also be observed in patients recovered from AN. This is important as tactile anhedonia in acute patients may be the secondary result of prolonged malnutrition, rather than a deficit that contributed to the development of the disorder. Second, we examined whether these three groups would also differ in their top-down, anticipatory beliefs about the perceived pleasantness of different materials touching the skin, and to what degree such top-down beliefs and related impairments in alexithymia and interoceptive sensibility would explain any differences in perceived tactile plesantness. To this end, we measured the anticipated pleasantness of various materials touching the skin and the perceived pleasantness of light, dynamic stroking touches applied to the forearm of 27 women with AN, 24 women who have recovered and 30 healthy controls using C Tactile (CT) afferents-optimal (slow) and non-optimal (fast) velocities. Our results showed that both clinical groups anticipated tactile experiences and rated delivered tactile stimuli as less pleasant than healthy controls, but the latter difference was not related to the CT optimality of the stimulation. Instead, differences in how CT optimal touch were perceived were predicted by differences in top-down beliefs, alexithymia and interoceptive sensibility. Thus, this study concludes that tactile anhedonia in AN is not the secondary result of malnutrition but persists as a trait even after otherwise successful recovery of AN and also it not linked to a bottom-up interoceptive deficit in the CT system, but rather to a learned, defective top-down anticipation of pleasant tactile experiences.

scholarly journals Shared and Independent Neural Representation Between Visual Perception and Mental Imagery

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yingying Huang ◽  
Frank Pollick ◽  
Ming Liu ◽  
Delong Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Visual Perception ◽  
Mental Imagery ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Neural Representation ◽  
Gabor Features ◽  
Visual Areas ◽  
Neural Substrate ◽  
Early Visual Cortex ◽  
Human Participants ◽  
Insight Into

Abstract Visual mental imagery and visual perception have been shown to share a hierarchical topological visual structure of neural representation. Meanwhile, many studies have reported a dissociation of neural substrate between mental imagery and perception in function and structure. However, we have limited knowledge about how the visual hierarchical cortex involved into internally generated mental imagery and perception with visual input. Here we used a dataset from previous fMRI research (Horikawa & Kamitani, 2017), which included a visual perception and an imagery experiment with human participants. We trained two types of voxel-wise encoding models, based on Gabor features and activity patterns of high visual areas, to predict activity in the early visual cortex (EVC, i.e., V1, V2, V3) during perception, and then evaluated the performance of these models during mental imagery. Our results showed that during perception and imagery, activities in the EVC could be independently predicted by the Gabor features and activity of high visual areas via encoding models, which suggested that perception and imagery might share neural representation in the EVC. We further found that there existed a Gabor-specific and a non-Gabor-specific neural response pattern to stimuli in the EVC, which were shared by perception and imagery. These findings provide insight into mechanisms of how visual perception and imagery shared representation in the EVC.

scholarly journals Peripheral immune cell reactivity and neural response to reward in patients with depression and anhedonia

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Costi ◽  
Laurel S. Morris ◽  
Abigail Collins ◽  
Nicolas F. Fernandez ◽  
Manishkumar Patel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mononuclear Cells ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Flanker Task ◽  
Reward Processing ◽  
Neural Responses ◽  
Depressed Patients ◽  
Reward Anticipation ◽  
Peripheral Leukocytes ◽  
Immune Score

AbstractIncreased levels of peripheral cytokines have been previously associated with depression in preclinical and clinical research. Although the precise nature of peripheral immune dysfunction in depression remains unclear, evidence from animal studies points towards a dysregulated response of peripheral leukocytes as a risk factor for stress susceptibility. This study examined dynamic release of inflammatory blood factors from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in depressed patients and associations with neural and behavioral measures of reward processing. Thirty unmedicated patients meeting criteria for unipolar depressive disorder and 21 healthy control volunteers were enrolled. PBMCs were isolated from whole blood and stimulated ex vivo with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Olink multiplex assay was used to analyze a large panel of inflammatory proteins. Participants completed functional magnetic resonance imaging with an incentive flanker task to probe neural responses to reward anticipation, as well as clinical measures of anhedonia and pleasure including the Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale (TEPS) and the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS). LPS stimulation revealed larger increases in immune factors in depressed compared to healthy subjects using an aggregate immune score (t49 = 2.83, p = 0.007). Higher peripheral immune score was associated with reduced neural responses to reward anticipation within the ventral striatum (VS) (r = −0.39, p = 0.01), and with reduced anticipation of pleasure as measured with the TEPS anticipatory sub-score (r = −0.318, p = 0.023). Our study provides new evidence suggesting that dynamic hyper-reactivity of peripheral leukocytes in depressed patients is associated with blunted activation of the brain reward system and lower subjective anticipation of pleasure.

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