Food decisions in anorexia engage brain region tied to inflexible habits, study finds
Individuals with anorexia nervosa restrict food intake, sometimes to the point of starvation. Yet a new study published in The Journal of Neuroscience finds that the cognitive machinery they use to make decisions about what to eat is remarkably similar to that of healthy eaters.
A study published in The Journal of Neuroscience reveals that individuals with anorexia nervosa make food choices differently than healthy eaters. Researchers at the University of Chicago discovered that while both groups engage the hippocampus during food decision-making, those with anorexia also activate the striatum. This region is linked to habit formation and inflexible behavior.
The study suggests that the source of evidence for anorexia-related food decisions may come from a more rigid system, while healthy individuals rely on a more adaptable one. The findings could lead to new interventions for eating disorders by targeting the altered valuation inputs in the striatum.
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