Electrocortical Processing of Food and Emotional Pictures in Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa

Jens Blechert, Bernd Feige, Andreas Joos, Almut Zeeck, Brunna Tuschen-Caffier
2011 Psychosomatic Medicine  
Objective: To compare the electrocortical processing of food pictures in participants with anorexia nervosa (n = 21), bulimia nervosa (n = 22), and healthy controls (HCs) (n = 32) by measuring the early posterior negativity, an event-related potential that reflects stimulus salience and selective attention. Methods: We exposed these three groups to a rapid stream of high-and low-calorie food pictures, as well as standard emotional and neutral pictures. Results: Event-related potentials in the
more » ... me range of 220 milliseconds to 310 milliseconds on posterior electrodes differed between groups: patients with eating disorders showed facilitated processing of both high-and low-calorie food pictures relative to neutral pictures, whereas HC participants did so only for the high-calorie pictures. Subjective palatability of the pictures was rated highest by patients with anorexia nervosa, followed by the HC and bulimia nervosa groups. Conclusions: Patients with eating disorders show a generalized attentional bias for food images, regardless of caloric value. This might explain the persistent preoccupation with food in these individuals. Key words: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, early posterior negativity, event-related potentials, food pictures, attentional bias. ANOVA = analysis of variance; AN = anorexia nervosa; BN = bulimia nervosa; EDs = eating disorders; DSM-IV = Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition; EPN = early posterior negativity; EEG = electroencephalography; ERPs = event-related potentials; fMRI = functional magnetic resonance imaging; high-cal = high-calorie; IAPS = international affective picture system; LPP = late positive potential; low-cal = low-calorie; RSVP = rapid serial visual presentation.
doi:10.1097/psy.0b013e318211b871 pmid:21493952 fatcat:nfzeu45qcreopd3cgdfjvi44ga