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Published Online: 1 October 2013

Alterations in Brain Structures Related to Taste Reward Circuitry in Ill and Recovered Anorexia Nervosa and in Bulimia Nervosa

Abstract

Strong correlations between gyrus rectus volume and ratings of taste pleasantness suggest overstimulation to sensory input that may contribute to food avoidance.

Abstract

Objective

The pathophysiology of anorexia nervosa remains obscure, but structural brain alterations could be functionally important biomarkers. The authors assessed taste pleasantness and reward sensitivity in relation to brain structure, which may be related to food avoidance commonly seen in eating disorders.

Method

The authors used structural MR imaging to study gray and white matter volumes in women with current restricting-type anorexia nervosa (N=19), women recovered from restricting-type anorexia nervosa (N=24), women with bulimia nervosa (N=19), and healthy comparison women (N=24).

Results

All eating disorder groups exhibited increased gray matter volume of the medial orbitofrontal cortex (gyrus rectus). Manual tracing confirmed larger gyrus rectus volume, and volume predicted taste pleasantness ratings across all groups. Analyses also indicated other morphological differences between diagnostic categories. Antero-ventral insula gray matter volumes were increased on the right side in the anorexia nervosa and recovered anorexia nervosa groups and on the left side in the bulimia nervosa group relative to the healthy comparison group. Dorsal striatum volumes were reduced in the recovered anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa groups and predicted sensitivity to reward in all three eating disorder groups. The eating disorder groups also showed reduced white matter in right temporal and parietal areas relative to the healthy comparison group. The results held when a range of covariates, such as age, depression, anxiety, and medications, were controlled for.

Conclusion

Brain structure in the medial orbitofrontal cortex, insula, and striatum is altered in eating disorders and suggests altered brain circuitry that has been associated with taste pleasantness and reward value.

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Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to American Journal of Psychiatry
Go to American Journal of Psychiatry
American Journal of Psychiatry
Pages: 1152 - 1160
PubMed: 23680873

History

Received: 11 October 2012
Revision received: 14 December 2012
Accepted: 31 January 2013
Published online: 1 October 2013
Published in print: October 2013

Authors

Details

Guido K. Frank, M.D.
From the Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus; and the Center for Neuroscience, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder.
Megan E. Shott, B.S.
From the Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus; and the Center for Neuroscience, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder.
Jennifer O. Hagman, M.D.
From the Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus; and the Center for Neuroscience, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder.
Vijay A. Mittal, Ph.D.
From the Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus; and the Center for Neuroscience, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder.

Notes

Address correspondence to Dr. Frank ([email protected]).

Funding Information

The authors report no financial relationships with commercial interests.
Supplementary Material
Supported by a Davis Foundation Award of the Klarman Family Foundation Grants Program in Eating Disorders and by NIMH grants K23 MH080135 and R01 MH096777.

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