Mapping gray matter changes in anorexia nervosa: a functional connectivity network approach.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) studies reveal inconsistent gray matter (GM) changes in anorexia nervosa (AN).
• The convergence of these GM alterations on specific brain networks in AN remains poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and identify common brain networks associated with GM alterations in AN.
• To utilize the Human Connectome Project (HCP) dataset and functional connectivity network mapping (FCNM) for network-level analysis.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases up to October 10, 2024.
• Inclusion of 26 studies with 667 individuals with AN and 659 healthy controls (HC).
• Application of FCNM and HCP dataset for identifying common disrupted neural networks.

Main Results:

• Commonly disrupted neural networks in AN include the auditory network, ventral and dorsal default mode networks (DMN), and sensorimotor network (SMN).
• Subgroup analyses indicated variations in affected networks among females-only, adolescent, and adult subgroups.
• Integration of HCP data and FCNM revealed network-level abnormalities.

Conclusions:

• Heterogeneous GM alterations in AN are linked to common abnormalities in the auditory, DMN, and SMN.
• These network disruptions correlate with distorted body image, emotional dysregulation, and sensory-motor integration deficits in AN.
• FCNM offers a unified network perspective on AN neurobiology, guiding therapeutic strategies.