Neuroanatomical Correlates of Binge-Eating Behavior: At the Roots of Unstoppable Eating

Abstract

Binge-eating refers to episodes of uncontrolled eating accompanied by a perceived loss of control, which can be common in the general population. Given the profound negative consequences of persistent binge-eating such as weight and eating disorders, it is vital to determine what makes someone more vulnerable than others to engage in such a conduct. A total of 42 normal-weight individuals (21 with binge-eating episodes and 21 without binge-eating episodes) underwent a structural magnetic resonance imaging measurement and Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used to assess between-group differences in terms of gray matter volume (GMV), together with self-report impulsivity and binge-eating measures. The results showed binge-eating individuals as characterized by higher trait impulsivity and greater regional GMV in the left middle frontal gyrus: however, the GMV in this region appeared to be positively correlated only with measures of binge-eating but not with trait impulsivity measures. These findings provide novel insights on the neurobiological roots of BE in normal-weight individuals and highlight how this behavior can be associated with brain morphometric changes within prefrontal regions also in a non-clinical population. Overall, this study provides a further characterization of the neural correlates of binge-eating and novel insights into the treatment of its more severe pathological forms.

Reduction of drive for thinness and body dissatisfaction in people with self-reported dysregulated eating behaviors after intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex

“…Structural and functional neuroimaging studies among this subclinical population suggested a pattern of hemispheric asymmetry in cortical excitability of the prefrontal areas with the left prefrontal cortex described as a key region for inhibitory control processes in overeating (Yokum et al, 2011;Val-Laillet et al, 2015;Gluck et al, 2017;Stice and Burger, 2019;Oliva et al, 2021). In particular, Dong and colleagues (Dong et al, 2016), in their fRMI study, suggest a positive correlation between the activation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (lDLPFC) and the impulse control compensation in response to a stronger reward signal among women with an elevated impulse to restrictive eating.…”

The neurobiological reward system and binge eating: A critical systematic review of neuroimaging studies

“…When it comes to PET, there are three studies that investigate serotonin transporter availability with one of them also looking at dopamine transporter availability (Galusca et al, 2014;Kuikka et al, 2001;Tauscher et al, 2001). There are three studies that look at GMV or the cerebral surface of patients with BN (Berner et al, 2018;Marsh et al, 2015;Oliva et al, 2021). There are another four studies looking at resting-state functional connectivity (Domakonda et al, 2019;Lavagnino et al, 2014;Lee et al, 2014;Spalatro et al, 2019).…”