Changes in Inhibition and Valuation After Eating

An impaired ability to exert control has been implicated in bulimia nervosa (BN), but this impairment may not represent a stable trait or be the most effective focus for treatment. This project aims to understand how predictions and value-based decisions about control may be abnormally influenced by eating in individuals with BN, thereby maintaining cycles of binge eating, purging, and restriction.

The overarching goal of this project is to test a neurocomputational model of BN that incorporates learning and decision-making components of control. The study combines functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), computational modeling, and real-time mobile assessments to examine the influences of acute fasting and eating on brain function and associated control-related updating and effort-valuation processes in BN. More specifically, the study has the following main objectives: 1) To determine the influence of eating on control-related prediction updating in BN.; 2) To determine the influence of eating on control-related cognitive effort valuation in BN; 3) To use state-specific neural activation to predict BN symptoms.

Two participant groups (one with and one without bulimia nervosa) will be scanned using MRI after they have fasted and after they have consumed a standardized meal. The order of these two scans will be counterbalanced across groups.

Participants are randomly assigned (in even numbers across the two groups) to scan order: A. These participants are first scanned after 16 hours of fasting on one day, and are next scanned after a standardized meal on a second day. B. These participants are first scanned after a standardized meal on one day, and are next scanned after 16 hours of fasting on a second day.

Participants are randomly assigned (in even numbers across the two groups) to scan order: A. These participants are first scanned after 16 hours of fasting on one day, and are next scanned after a standardized meal on a second day. B. These participants are first scanned after a standardized meal on one day, and are next scanned after 16 hours of fasting on a second day.

Blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal in frontostriatal brain circuitry associated with inhibitory control prediction errors

Blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal in frontostriatal brain circuitry associated with inhibitory control prediction errors

Frontostriatal Activation Encoding the Subjective Value of Cognitive Effort on the Cognitive-Effort Discounting Task

Blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal in frontostriatal brain circuitry associated with the subjective value of expending cognitive effort on control

Frontostriatal Activation Encoding the Subjective Value of Cognitive Effort on the Cognitive-Effort Discounting Task

Blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal in frontostriatal brain circuitry associated with the subjective value of expending cognitive effort on control

Behavioral performance on the stop signal task, as measured by percent correct responses to stop trials and the trial-by-trial association between the predicted likelihood that upcoming inhibition is needed (P(stop)) from a Bayesian ideal observer model and accuracy

Behavioral performance on the stop signal task, as measured by percent correct responses to stop trials and the trial-by-trial association between the predicted likelihood that upcoming inhibition is needed (P(stop)) from a Bayesian ideal observer model and accuracy

The subjective value of cognitive effort estimated for each N-back load level and cost- and benefit-modulated drift rate parameters from a drift- diffusion model applied to behavioral performance data

The subjective value of cognitive effort estimated for each N-back load level and cost- and benefit-modulated drift rate parameters from a drift- diffusion model applied to behavioral performance data

The frequency of binge-eating episodes as assessed by the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) and Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA). Binge-eating frequency has a minimum limit of 0 and no maximum limit. A higher score indicates a greater severity.

The frequency of compensatory behaviors as assessed by the EDE and EMA. This frequency has a minimum limit of 0 and no maximum limit. A higher score indicates a greater severity.

The frequency of fasting episodes as assessed by the EDE avoidance of eating item (minimum limit = 0, maximum limit = 6); the severity of dietary restriction as assessed by the Eating Pathology Symptoms Inventory (EPSI) - restricting subscale (minimum limit=0; maximum limit=24), and the frequency of restrictive eating behaviors as assessed by EMA (minimum limit=0; no maximum limit). On all measures, a higher score indicates a greater severity.

The prevalence of bulimia nervosa is substantially greater in women than in men. Moreover, prior research suggest that men and women show different neural response patterns during the engagement of inhibitory control, and that satiety differentially impacts the neural function of men and women.

Inclusion Criteria: Female Aged 18 to 45 years Current BMI greater than or equal to 18.5kg/m2 but under 30kg/m2 Right-handed English-speaking Additional Inclusion Criteria for Women with Bulimia Nervosa: Meet DSM-5 criteria for bulimia nervosa Exclusion Criteria: Medical instability Ongoing medical treatment, medical condition, or psychiatric disorder that may interfere with study variables or participation Shift work Pregnancy, planned pregnancy, or lactation during the study period Allergy to any of the ingredients in or unwillingness to consume the standardized meal or unwillingness to drink water during the fasting period Any contraindication for fMRI

Specify Other Time FrameWithin one year of the completion of the funded project period or upon acceptance of the data for publication, whichever is earlier

Investigators whose proposed use of the data has been approved by an independent review committee ('learned intermediary') identified for this purpose. Any purpose. Specify Other Mechanism All data will be deposited to the National Data Archive (NDA) starting 12 months after the award begins and will be deposited every 6 months thereafter following the usual NDA data submission dates. The research community will be able to find the data through this study's NDA Collection C4723. The research community will have access to the data within one year of the completion of the funded project period or upon acceptance of the data for publication, whichever is earlier. NDA will make decisions about how long to preserve the data, but that data archive has not deleted any deposited data up to now.