Altered resting-state effective connectivity between reward and inhibition networks in restrained eaters with high...

Disinhibition, defined as the loss of dietary control in response to emotional distress or external food cues despite sustained restraint efforts, is a major contributor to weight gain and eating pathology among restrained eaters. Previous studies have associated altered functional connectivity between the reward and inhibition networks with disinhibited eating, however, the directional architecture of these interactions during resting state remains unclear. This study employed spectral Dynamic Causal Modeling (spDCM) to examine directional influences between the reward and inhibition networks in 83 restrained eaters divided into high- and low-disinhibition groups. Results revealed that individuals with high disinhibition exhibited reduced inhibitory modulation from a key node of the reward network (right mOFC) to nodes within the inhibition network (right dlPFC and bilateral IPLs), alongside disrupted intra-network connectivity within the inhibition network, characterized by hemispheric asymmetry. These findings suggest that altered resting-state directional interactions between the reward and inhibition networks may impair cognitive control and increase susceptibility to disinhibited eating. The results provide a mechanistic basis for developing targeted interventions, such as neuromodulation or cognitive training, to improve dietary self-regulation.