Understanding brain factors in adolescents with anorexia nervosa and hyperactivity
Official title: Neural Correlates of Reinforcement Learning Specific to Hyperactivityin Adolescent Anorexia Nervosa
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11055988 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the brain affects learning and decision-making in teenagers with anorexia nervosa, especially those who exercise a lot, to help find new ways to treat their symptoms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2021 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $169,538 |
| NIH project number | 5K23MH126201-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11055988 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents diagnosed with anorexia nervosa who also engage in excessive exercise behaviors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have anorexia nervosa or those who do not exhibit driven exercise behaviors may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how brain mechanisms influence reinforcement learning in adolescents suffering from anorexia nervosa, particularly those who exhibit driven exercise behaviors. By using decision-making tasks, the study compares responses between adolescents with anorexia who engage in excessive exercise and those who do not, alongside healthy controls. Additionally, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) will be utilized to observe brain activity during these tasks, providing insights into the neurobiological underpinnings of their behaviors. The goal is to identify potential targets for new treatments that address these specific symptoms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment strategies for adolescents with anorexia nervosa, particularly those struggling with hyperactivity and exercise-related symptoms.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been significant research on anorexia nervosa, this specific focus on reinforcement learning and driven exercise in adolescents is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gorrell, Sasha Catherine — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Gorrell, Sasha Catherine
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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.