Project Summary

Graham W. Redgrave, M.D. (Young Investigator 2007) of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, is studying changes in brain function underlying anorexia nervosa (AN) and their relationship to the clinical syndrome of AN. He will examine differences in behavioral performance and hemodynamic responses in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), amygdala, nucleus accumbens, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) during performance of specific tasks. He will also examine the hemodynamic response patterns in the amygdala, piriform cortex (PC), and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) in response to olfactory stimuli in women with and without AN. By identifying the brain mechanisms underlying the cognitive and emotional aspects of the reward value of dieting and fear of fatness, he hopes to clarify the relationship of AN to other mental illnesses, such as addictions and anxiety disorders, with which AN shares several features. He also seeks to identify predictors of treatment response and risk of relapse.

Program Area: EATING DISORDERS\Anorexia Nervosa

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