04.12.2017

3-jährige Projektförderung der Schweizerischen Anorexia Nervosa Stiftung - Prof. Dr. Svaldi

Changes in Neuronal Processing of Food Cues by Attention Modification in Binge Eating Disorder

This project will test whether an attention bias modification training (AMT) can modify altered neural processing of food cues in binge eating disorder (BED).

Previous research has shown that the AMT is an intervention able to reduce food-related attentional biases and food craving/consumption in BED. However, it is yet to be studied whether (a) an AMT is able to modify food-related altered brain activities, and (b) whether a modification of relevant brain circuits will lead to an improvement of craving and binge eating in binge-typical situations in BED. These are the questions addressed by this project.

In order to test the developed hypotheses, the research design relies on an established paradigm implemented both prior to and after the AMT (an AMT control condition, respectively). Measurements of brain activation will be conducted, using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).