Spatio-temporal dynamics of brain function across depression severity in binge-type eating disorders

Functional connectivity (FC) and intrinsic neural timescales (INT) characterize the spatio-temporal neural dynamics of binge-type eating disorders (EDs). We examined FC and INT abnormalities in visual-related regions of patients with binge-type EDs, focusing on the impact of depression severity. We recruited 72 patients with binge-type EDs and 39 healthy controls (HCs). Patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 (minimal/mild depression) and Group 2 (moderate/severe depression). FC alterations in key visual-related regions across three groups were analyzed using ANCOVA (P < 0.05, FWE-corrected). INT was further assessed in regions with significant FC changes (P < 0.05, FDR-corrected). Correlations of FC and INT with clinical measures, as well as between FC and INT, were examined. Seventeen brain subregions exhibited altered FC, with Group 2 showing more pronounced disruptions than Group 1 and HCs. These alterations primarily involved nodes within the sensorimotor, reward, and inhibitory control networks. Additionally, significant INT differences in the sensorimotor and heteromodal regions were observed between Group 2 and HCs. Correlation analyses suggested trend-level associations between FC and clinical characteristics, as well as between FC and INT in Group 2. Collectively, these findings indicate that FC and INT disruptions in visual-related regions are aggravated by depression severity in binge-type EDs.