EEG for Prediction Error in Anorexia
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial uses EEG (a test that records brain activity) to study the brain's reward system in adolescents with anorexia nervosa. Researchers aim to determine if EEG can replace more expensive and less accessible brain imaging methods like fMRI. Participants will complete prediction error tasks involving taste and money rewards to measure brain responses. The trial seeks females aged 11-17 who either have a current diagnosis of anorexia nervosa or are healthy controls within a healthy weight range. As an unphased trial, it offers participants the opportunity to contribute to important research that could lead to more accessible diagnostic tools.
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial requires that participants with anorexia nervosa must not have used anti-psychotic or other dopamine-acting medications, including stimulants, within the past week at the time of MRI. For healthy controls, current medications other than birth control pills or IUDs are not allowed.
What prior data suggests that this EEG method is safe for studying prediction error in adolescent anorexia nervosa?
Research shows that tasks designed to study reactions to surprises, known as prediction error tasks, are generally safe and well-tolerated. These tasks help researchers understand how unexpected events affect the brain, which can aid in treating anorexia nervosa.
Regarding safety, no serious side effects have been reported from these tasks. Studies indicate that learning about prediction error can help manage anorexia nervosa without causing harm. Although this method remains under investigation, current evidence suggests it is safe for participants.12345Why are researchers excited about this trial?
Researchers are excited about the EEG for Prediction Error in Anorexia trial because it explores a new technique that could offer fresh insights into treating anorexia nervosa. Unlike current treatments, which often focus on nutritional rehabilitation and psychotherapy, this approach uses prediction error tasks to potentially identify and correct cognitive patterns related to the disorder. By examining brain activity through EEG, scientists hope to uncover how individuals with anorexia process errors in prediction, which could lead to developing more targeted and effective interventions. This innovative angle could pave the way for breakthroughs in understanding and possibly treating anorexia at its cognitive roots.
What evidence suggests that using EEG for prediction error tasks is effective for studying adolescent anorexia nervosa?
Research shows that people with anorexia nervosa (AN) exhibit a stronger "prediction error" signal in their brains, related to reward processing. Studies have found that this stronger signal links to weight gain during treatment, suggesting it might predict therapy response. In teenagers with AN, unexpected events or rewards activate certain brain areas more than in healthy individuals. This increased brain activity might connect to the dopamine system, which medications can target. By studying these brain signals, researchers aim to find better ways to treat and understand AN. Using EEG, a test that measures brain waves, instead of more expensive imaging, can make these studies more accessible and widespread.
This trial will compare participants with anorexia nervosa to healthy controls to further investigate these brain signals and their implications for treatment.23567Who Is on the Research Team?
Guido Frank, MD
Principal Investigator
University of California, San Diego
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for girls aged 11-17 with Anorexia Nervosa (AN), specifically the restricting type, and healthy controls within a similar age range. Participants must have a body weight below 17.5 BMI if diagnosed with AN or between 90-110% of average body weight if they are healthy controls. All participants should be right-handed as per the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory, speak English primarily, and for those with AN, be in their first weeks of treatment at specified centers.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
EEG Session for Taste Prediction Error
Participants undergo an EEG session to perform a taste prediction error paradigm
EEG Session for Monetary Prediction Error
Participants undergo an EEG session to perform a monetary reward prediction error paradigm
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after EEG sessions
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Prediction error tasks
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
University of California, San Diego
Lead Sponsor