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Incentive Processing and Learning in Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa

NCT05056597 · Status: RECRUITING · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 252

Last updated 2026-04-28

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate areas of the brain responsible for 'liking', 'wanting', and learning in adults with eating disorders using brain imaging techniques, computer tasks, a test meal, and self-report questionnaires and interviews. The investigators will study changes in brain activity using a procedure called functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). This study will include 252 women with an eating disorder (63 AN-restricting type (AN-R), 63 AN-binge eating/purging type (AN-BP), 63 bulimia nervosa (BN)) and 63 healthy controls (HC) aged 18-39.

Aim 1: To examine neural differences in 'liking' and 'wanting' in ED relative to HC.

Aim 2: To examine differences in instrumental learning for reward and punishment in ED relative to HC.

Aim 3: To examine how 'liking' and 'wanting' drive instrumental learning in ED and predict clinical symptoms at baseline and 1 year later.

Exploratory Aim: To explore the associations of dopamine function, as measured by neuromelanin MRI (NM-MRI), with ED diagnosis and brain response to 'liking', 'wanting', and learning.

Conditions

  • Anorexia Nervosa
  • Bulimia Nervosa

Sponsors & Collaborators

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
39 Years
Sex
FEMALE
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2022-05-26
Primary Completion
2027-01-31
Completion
2027-01-31

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Entities

Companies

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT05056597 on ClinicalTrials.gov