Brain control during hunger and after eating in bulimia nervosa
Dynamic Neural Computations Underlying Cognitive Control in Bulimia Nervosa
This project looks at whether fasting versus eating changes brain signals that influence self-control in adults with bulimia nervosa.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11243504 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From your perspective, researchers will combine MRI brain scans, computer modeling, and smartphone check-ins to track how control over eating changes when you are hungry versus after you eat. You may be asked to fast or to eat before some scan visits, report urges and behaviors in real time on your phone, and complete tasks in the scanner that measure decision-making and effort. The team will focus on frontostriatal brain circuits and on how the brain updates predictions and decides whether exerting control is worth the effort. The goal is to link those brain changes to episodes of bingeing and compensatory behaviors to identify possible treatment targets.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21+) with a current diagnosis of bulimia nervosa who can undergo MRI scans and participate in smartphone-based monitoring are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without bulimia nervosa, those under 21, or individuals who cannot undergo MRI (for example due to metal implants or severe claustrophobia) would likely not be eligible or benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to brain-based targets for new or improved treatments that reduce binge and purge cycles.
How similar studies have performed: Prior brain imaging and mobile-monitoring work in eating disorders has shown control-related differences, but combining fMRI, computational modeling, and real-time tracking in bulimia is a relatively new and developing approach.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Berner, Laura a. — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Berner, Laura a.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.