The Cognitive Drivers of Compulsive Eating Behavior

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Compulsivity is a core feature of obsessive-compulsive and addictive disorders.
• Excessive eating behavior, seen in eating disorders (bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder), obesity, and food addiction, shares repetitive traits with these conditions.
• The cognitive underpinnings of compulsivity include cognitive flexibility, set-shifting, attentional bias/disengagement, and habit learning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review evidence on cognitive performance in compulsivity-related domains among individuals with excessive eating behavior.
• To determine if specific cognitive deficits are associated with various eating-related conditions.

Main Methods:

• Mini-review of existing studies.
• Synthesis of performance data on compulsivity-related cognitive tasks.
• Analysis across four cognitive domains: contingency-related cognitive flexibility, set-shifting, attentional bias/disengagement, and habit learning.

Main Results:

• Mixed findings were observed in set-shifting, attentional bias, and habit learning across populations.
• Impaired contingency-related cognitive flexibility was primarily linked to obesity.
• Attentional bias/disengagement deficits were more evident in obesity and binge eating disorder (BED).

Conclusions:

• Cognitive deficits related to compulsivity appear common across a spectrum of eating-related conditions.
• Evidence is inconsistent or lacking for certain disorders, highlighting the need for further investigation.
• Understanding these cognitive deficits is crucial for theoretical and practical advancements in treating eating-related conditions.