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Updated: Aug 6, 2026

Using the Activity-based Anorexia Rodent Model to Study the Neurobiological Basis of Anorexia Nervosa
Published on: October 22, 2015
Neurocognitive functioning in subjects with eating disorders: the influence of neuroactive steroids
Silvana Galderisi1, Armida Mucci, Palmiero Monteleone
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Naples SUN, Italy.
Background:
Neuropsychological studies in subjects with eating disorders (EDs) have reported conflicting findings, which might be accounted for by several confounding variables, including neuroendocrine changes.
Methods:
General abilities, executive functions, attention, and noneffortful learning were assessed in 45 patients with EDs and 45 healthy comparison subjects (HCS). Plasma levels of 17beta-estradiol, cortisol, allopregnanolone, dehydroepiandrosterone and its sulfate metabolite (DHEA and DHEAS) were evaluated in a subsample of patients and HCS. The influence of clinical, demographic, and neuroendocrine variables on neurocognitive performance was explored.
Results:
Patients were slower than HCS on noneffortful learning and more accurate on a spatial executive task. DHEA and DHEAS were increased and positively correlated with accuracy on the executive task, while cortisol positively correlated with speed of noneffortful learning.
Conclusions:
A subtle impairment of noneffortful learning is the only neuropsychological deficit in patients with EDs. Changes in neuroactive steroids influence neurocognitive performance.
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