Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 17, 2026
04:19
A Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Eating Disorder Analysis and Diagnosis
Published on: May 10, 2022
4.7K
Anorexia nervosa and body dysmorphic disorder are associated with abnormalities in processing visual information
1Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program,University of California,Los Angeles,CA,USA.
Psychological Medicine
|February 6, 2015
Summary
Individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN) and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) show similar visual processing abnormalities. These findings suggest a shared neural basis for perceptual distortions in AN and BDD.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Visual Perception
Background:
- Anorexia nervosa (AN) and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) share distorted body image and are often comorbid.
- Previous research indicates visual processing abnormalities in AN and BDD, but direct comparisons are lacking.
- Early visual signaling abnormalities were investigated using event-related potentials (ERPs) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
Purpose of the Study:
- To directly compare visual processing abnormalities in individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN) and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD).
- To investigate early visual signaling differences between AN, BDD, and healthy controls using ERPs and fMRI.
Main Methods:
- fMRI and ERP data were collected from 15 unmedicated individuals in each of three groups: weight-restored AN, BDD, and healthy controls.
- Participants viewed images of faces and houses at different spatial frequencies.
- Joint independent component analyses were used to compare activity in visual systems.
Main Results:
- Both AN and BDD groups exhibited hypoactivity in visual processing regions and the dorsal visual stream when viewing low spatial frequency faces (N170 component).
- Hypoactivity was also observed in early secondary visual processing regions for low spatial frequency houses (P100 component) in both AN and BDD groups.
- The BDD group showed hyperactivity in the fusiform cortex for high spatial frequency houses (N170 component), linked to lower attractiveness ratings.
Conclusions:
- Preliminary evidence suggests similar abnormal spatiotemporal activation in AN and BDD for processing both appearance-related and non-appearance-related stimuli.
- These findings indicate a potential common phenotype of abnormal early visual system functioning in AN and BDD.
- This shared visual processing abnormality may contribute to the perceptual distortions characteristic of these disorders.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Anorexia Nervosa
2.1K
Anorexia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of weight gain, an unrelenting pursuit of thinness, and a distorted body image. It often leads to dangerously low body weight relative to an individual's age and height. This disorder is marked by significant physical and psychological consequences, making it one of the most life-threatening psychiatric illnesses.
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
2.1K
01:30Bulimia Nervosa
1.2K
Bulimia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by a cyclical pattern of binge-and-purge eating pattern. It generally involves an episode of binge eating, followed by compensatory behaviors such as vomiting, excessive exercise, laxative use, or fasting, to prevent weight gain. Despite often maintaining a normal weight, individuals with bulimia are intensely preoccupied with their body image and harbor an overwhelming fear of gaining weight. This can contribute to the...
1.2K
01:23Binge Eating Disorders
830
Binge eating disorder is a significant mental health condition characterized by recurrent episodes of excessive food consumption within a short period, accompanied by a perceived loss of control over eating behavior. Unlike occasional overeating, binge eating disorder is marked by distressing emotions such as guilt, shame, and anxiety following binge episodes. The disorder affects individuals across different ages and backgrounds, with profound implications for physical and psychological...
830
01:12Visual Agnosia
1.8K
Visual agnosia is a condition characterized by the inability to recognize visually presented objects despite having normal vision. For instance, a person with visual agnosia can describe the shape and color of an object but cannot identify or name it. This impairment does not affect their visual field, acuity, color vision, brightness discrimination, language, or memory. An example of this condition in a social setting is someone at a dinner party asking for "that silver thing with a round...
1.8K
01:28Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
1.0K
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by recurrent obsessions, compulsions, or both, which consume significant time and interfere with daily functioning. Obsessions involve persistent, intrusive, and unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that evoke anxiety. Common examples include irrational fears of contamination or harm. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce the anxiety caused by obsessions. For instance, individuals...
1.0K
01:19Introduction to Psychological Disorders
1.7K
Abnormal behavior, often referred to as mental illness, results from changes in brain function that influence thought patterns, behaviors, and social interactions. Psychologists and psychiatrists typically assess abnormal behavior using three primary criteria: deviance, maladaptation, and personal distress, particularly when these traits persist over long periods.
Deviant Behavior
Deviance in behavior refers to actions or thought patterns that significantly diverge from societal norms or...
Deviant Behavior
Deviance in behavior refers to actions or thought patterns that significantly diverge from societal norms or...
1.7K