Artikel
Taste processing and associations with psychological symptoms in patients suffering from Anorexia Nervosa
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Autoren
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Nathalie Burkert
- Medizinische Universität Graz, Graz, Österreich
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Karl Koschutnig
- Karl Franzens Universität Graz, Graz, Österreich
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Franz Ebner
- Universitätsklinik für Neuroradiologie, Graz, Österreich
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Wolfgang Freidl
- Medizinische Universität Graz, Graz, Österreich
| Veröffentlicht: | 18. Februar 2016 |
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Gliederung
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Background: Eating disorders (EDs) are among the most widely spread and most severe mental diseases in Western countries. Individuals suffering from anorexia nervosa (AN) show functional alterations in cortical regions which are implicated in the regulation of feeding behaviour. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze alterations in brain activity in response to different tastes (sweet, sour, and umami) and correlations between neurobiological changes and psychological factors.
Methods: Twenty females who were currently suffering from AN, and 20 healthy age-matched control women (CW) were tested. Psychological data was measured with a questionnaire and imaging data was collected from a 3 Tesla magnetic resonance scanner (MRI), while three different taste stimuli as well as a neutral solution were presented to the participants.The brain activity in response to different taste stimuli was analyzed with the statistical software SPM. Group differences due to the administration of a taste in general were analyzed. Pearson’s correlation coefficients were calculated between the mean beta activity in the significant regions and psychological data such as stress, anxiety and pleasantness ratings, co-morbidities, and the duration of the illness.
Results: The results of this study evidenced altered taste processing in brain areas such as the insula, the anterior cingulated cortex, and the frontal cortex, being relevant for reward, decision-making, emotional responses, control, and the integration of information, irrespectively of taste modality. In addition to this, the results showed that taste processing is associated with stress, anxiety, co-morbidities, and the duration of the illness in AN.
Conclusions: Up until now, hardly any information regarding physiological correlates of behavioral disorders was available because of the inaccessibility of the brain. The results of this study evidenced that AN is associated with an altered brain activity, and that the neurobiological changes are related to psychological symptoms which are present in patients suffering from the disease. Overall, the results of this study help to better understand the pathophysiology of the disease which can help to find a reasoned approach to its treatment.
