Understanding brain functions related to cognitive control in bulimia nervosa
Official title: Dynamic Neural Computations Underlying Cognitive Control in Bulimia Nervosa
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-11010376 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the brain works when people with bulimia nervosa make decisions about eating, to better understand how their control over food choices changes during eating and fasting, which could lead to new ways to help them.
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 start | March 15, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $674,346 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH132786-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11010376 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who are diagnosed with bulimia nervosa.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have bulimia nervosa or are under 21 years old may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the brain mechanisms that contribute to cognitive control in individuals with bulimia nervosa, a serious eating disorder. By using advanced techniques like functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and real-time mobile assessments, the study aims to understand how food consumption affects brain function and decision-making processes. The researchers will explore how cognitive control fluctuates between periods of eating and fasting, which may help identify new treatment targets for bulimia nervosa.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatment strategies that better address the cognitive challenges faced by individuals with bulimia nervosa.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in understanding cognitive control in eating disorders, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
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.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
How reward, motivation, and learning drive anorexia and bulimia
This project looks at how people with anorexia or bulimia experience pleasure, motivation, and learning about food to understand why disordered eating keeps happening.
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Brain control during hunger and after eating in bulimia nervosa
This project looks at whether fasting versus eating changes brain signals that influence self-control in adults with bulimia nervosa.
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Understanding how exploration develops in adolescents with bulimia nervosa
This study is looking at how teenage girls with bulimia nervosa explore their surroundings and make decisions, by checking out how their brains work compared to girls without the condition, to better understand what might help them during this important time in their development.
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Understanding how people with anorexia and bulimia process rewards and learn from experiences
This study is looking at why some people with eating disorders, like anorexia and bulimia, struggle with food even when it hurts them, by exploring how their brains respond to rewards and learn from their experiences, and it invites patients to share their thoughts and feelings about eating.
-
Understanding how avoidance affects decision-making in anorexia and bulimia
This study is looking at how the way we learn to avoid bad experiences affects eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia, with the hope of finding better ways to help people who struggle with these issues.
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Eating Disorder Dynamic Intervention
A digital program is tested to help adults with eating disorders by sending real-time, personalized coping tips based on smartphone surveys and sensor data.
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.