Altered Brain Network Topology during Successful Response Inhibition in Children with Binge Eating

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Binge eating (BE) is a risk factor for eating disorders, yet its neural basis in children is understudied.
• Preliminary research implicates the corticostriatal system in BE.
• Understanding the neural underpinnings of childhood BE is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of the inhibitory control brain network in children at risk for binge eating (BE).
• To identify neural differences associated with BE in a pediatric cohort.

Main Methods:

• Utilized fMRI data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, including 65 children with BE and 84 controls.
• Applied graph theory analysis to Stop Signal Task fMRI data to assess network properties.
• Compared global and nodal network metrics, examining sex-by-group interactions.

Main Results:

• Children with BE exhibited increased nodal efficiency in the right postcentral gyrus and left middle frontal gyrus (MFG), and greater connectedness in the right postcentral gyrus compared to controls.
• Distinct network hubs were observed: right MFG and left insula in children with BE, versus right orbitofrontal and left fusiform gyri in controls.
• Significant sex differences in the functioning of insular and frontal cortices were identified between groups.

Conclusions:

• Enhanced efficiency and connectedness in the inhibitory control network's frontal and parietal regions in children with BE may signify a vulnerability to overeating.
• Observed sex differences in brain network function suggest distinct vulnerabilities to BE in boys and girls, potentially explaining prevalence disparities.