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Robert Frost
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drawing by: Frits Ahlefeldt
picture source:publicdomainpics.net
“The high activity in the caudate probably reflects a heightened attempt to control the test situation. Unlike the normal controls, the anorexic women still thought they could find a way to control the outcome of the psychological challenge, even though this was impossible," said Dr. Angela Wagner.The game: Guess if a number higher or lower than 5 was represnted by a flashing question mark on a computer screen. Correct answer; win $2. Incorrect answer; forfeit $1
According to another fMRI study at the University of Pittsburg, anorexics' sense of taste differes from non-anorexics. Responses to sucrose (pleasant taste) and water (neutral taste) were measured. Imaging showed the response to both sucrose and water were significantly reduced in the insula and other related brain regions when compared the non-anorexic control group, making it possible that those with anorexia may have difficulty recognizing taste or experiencing the pleasure associated with it. This same region of the brain contributes to the regulation of emotions which may explain why some anorexics don't respond to hunger and avoid what is normally considered pleasurable foods."The investigators believe that the results of this study indicate that healthy women respond to wins and losses by “living in the moment” and moving on to the next task. However, the women with a history of anorexia were unable to do this."
“Our study shows a biological background to the disease of anorexia nervosa,” commented Dr. Wagner. “It is not just a result of environmental influences. In the past, our approach as clinicians was to focus on behavior and on getting patients to eat. The functional studies suggest that perhaps we should also focus on mindset, on finding ways to train these patients to accept change and to experience pleasure. A logical next step also would be to study neurotransmitters, especially dopamine, and try to understand the differences we identified in brain circuits. This might, in turn, point the way to a new approach to pharmacologic therapy for anorexia nervosa.”
One question is whether these brain changes predate and predispose patients to anorexia nervosa or whether the changes are a “scar” in the brain resulting from past malnutrition and weight loss. The researchers are now using fMRI to study brain function in similar challenge situations in women with current anorexia nervosa.
"We know that the insula and the connected regions are thought to play an important role in interoceptive information, which determines how the individual senses the physiological condition of the entire body," said Kaye. "Interoception has long been thought to be critical for self-awareness because it provides the link between thinking and mood, and the current body state."
This lack of interoceptive awareness may contribute to other symptoms of anorexia nervosa such as distorted body image, lack of recognition of the symptoms of malnutrition and diminished motivation to change, according to Kaye.
sources:http://www.neuropsychiatryreviews.com/08jan/brainfunction.html
andhttp://www.psychologyandwellbeing.org/pn/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=150 picturesource:http://math.lbl.gov/~deschamp/png/myBrain.png