Article
Brain activity in response to different taste stimuli in subjects suffering from Anorexia Nervosa in comparison to healthy controls
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Published: | March 17, 2014 |
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Background: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is one of the most and severe mental diseases. In patients with AN alterations in brain regions which are implicated in the regulation of feeding behaviour have been registered due to the administration of taste stimuli. Therefore, the aim of our study was to analyze the brain activity in response to different taste stimuli in patients suffering from AN.
Material/Methods: Twenty women who were currently suffering from AN, and 20 healthy age-matched control women (CW) were tested. Demographic, personal and behavioural data was collected. Additionally, imaging data from a 3 Tesla magnetic resonance scanner (MRI) was collected, while four different taste stimuli (sucrose, citric acid, umami, and artificial saliva) were presented to the participants of the study. Data concerning mean signal change was analyzed for regions of interest (insula, amygdale, caudate, cingulum, putamen, orbifrontal cortex, and frontal operculum) and correlated with anxiety ratings of the taste stimuli.
Results: Patients with AN showed a lower mean signal change due to the administration of sucrose, umami and citric acid in left caudate and right frontal inferior operculum. Additionally, in AN a lower signal change was registered in the left amygdale and right caudate due to the administration of sucrose. In CW lower anxiety ratings were associated with a higher mean signal change in the caudate and frontal right inferior operculum, while no such relation was found in AN.
Conclusion: The results can help to better understand biologic mechanisms which lead to normal and pathologic feeding behaviour. In-turn treatments can be improved.