Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Set shifting deficit in anorexia nervosa.

Joanna E Steinglass1, B Timothy Walsh, Yaakov Stern

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University, and The New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA. js1124@columbia.edu

Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society : JINS
|August 15, 2006
PubMed
Summary

Patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) show impaired cognitive flexibility, specifically in set shifting. This difficulty, measured by the Wisconsin Card Sort Test, suggests a neurocognitive abnormality contributing to AN persistence.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Factor Structure of the EDE-Q in Inpatients With Anorexia Nervosa: Stability Over the Course of Inpatient Treatment.

The International journal of eating disorders·2026
Same author

Different brain regions support deliberation during food choice in disordered and healthy eating.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience·2026
Same author

COVID-19-Related Stress and Adolescent Anorexia Nervosa: Early Detection, Similar Illness Course.

The International journal of eating disorders·2026
Same author

Moving Beyond BMI: The Need for Biomarkers of Physiological Recovery in Anorexia Nervosa and Atypical Anorexia Nervosa.

The International journal of eating disorders·2026
Same author

Diagnostic Criteria for Atypical Anorexia Nervosa: A Proposal.

The International journal of eating disorders·2026
Same author

Fluoxetine for anorexia nervosa after weight restoration: moderation of effect by depression.

Psychological medicine·2025

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry
  • Cognitive Psychology

Background:

  • Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a severe mental illness characterized by cognitive rigidity.
  • Cognitive rigidity may perpetuate AN symptoms and indicate underlying brain abnormalities.
  • Previous research indicates cognitive dysfunction in AN, but cognitive flexibility is understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess cognitive flexibility, specifically set shifting ability, in individuals with anorexia nervosa.
  • To investigate potential neurocognitive abnormalities associated with AN.

Main Methods:

  • A neuropsychological assessment was conducted comparing 15 patients with AN to 11 healthy controls.
  • The Wisconsin Card Sort Test (WCST) was used to measure set shifting ability.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Participants completed a battery of 5 neuropsychological function measures.

    • Main Results:

    • Patients with AN did not differ from controls on 5 measures of general neuropsychological function.
    • Individuals with AN made significantly more perseverative errors on the WCST.
    • This indicates a specific deficit in set shifting ability among AN patients.

    Conclusions:

    • Patients with anorexia nervosa exhibit a specific neurocognitive abnormality in cognitive flexibility.
    • Impaired set shifting may play a role in the development and maintenance of AN.
    • Findings suggest a target for therapeutic interventions aimed at improving cognitive flexibility in AN.