EEG in adolescent anorexia nervosa: impact of refeeding and weight gain

To examine resting awake EEG in adolescent AN participants before and after refeeding to determine if EEG abnormalities in Anorexia Nervosa (AN) are reversible.

In 37 adolescent first admission AN patients and 45 healthy controls, EEG was recorded during short duration "eyes open" and "eyes closed" awake resting conditions. Repeat testing occurred in 28 AN participants after refeeding and subsequent weight gain.

In "eyes open," underweight AN participants exhibit reduced relative alpha power and increased beta power in frontal brain regions. A significant increase in alpha, and decrease in beta and delta power was observed within participants after refeeding. In "eyes closed", underweight AN participants had elevated theta in parietal-occipital regions which remained after refeeding.

EEG abnormalities (reduced alpha/increased beta power) in AN normalizes with refeeding, while increased theta power persists in parietal-occipital regions in an eyes closed context.