The Neural Correlates of a Central Coherence Task in Young Women with Anorexia Nervosa

Objective: Heightened detail-processing and low levels of central coherence are common in individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN) and predict poorer prognosis. However, it is unclear whether these processing styles predate the disorder or, rather, emerge during later stages of AN. The current study aimed to address this question by investigating central coherence, and the neural correlates of central coherence, in a sample of young women with AN with shorter duration of illness than previous studies recruiting adult samples. Methods: We recruited 186 participants, including: 73 young women with AN, 45 young women weight-recovered from AN, and 68 age-matched controls. Participants completed the Embedded Figures Task during an fMRI scan. Results: There were no significant differences between the participant groups in performance accuracy or reaction time. There were no other between-groups differences in neural response to the Embedded Figures Task. Conclusions: These findings contrast with evidence from older adults demonstrating differences in the neural underpinning of central coherence amongst participants with AN versus control participants. The current study adds to an increasing literature base demonstrating the resilience of neuropsychological traits and associated brain systems in the early stages of AN.

Citation

Leslie, M., Halls, D., Leppanen, J., Sedgewick, F., Lang, K., Fonville, L., ... Tchanturia, K. (2021). The neural correlates of a central coherence task in young women with anorexia nervosa. European Eating Disorders Review, 29(5), 744-755. https://doi.org/10.1002/erv.2852

Publisher

Wiley

Journal

European Eating Disorders Review

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10034/625395

DOI

10.1002/erv.2852

Type

Article

Description

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Leslie, M., Halls, D., Leppanen, J., Sedgewick, F., Lang, K., Fonville, L., ... Tchanturia, K. (2021). The neural correlates of a central coherence task in young women with anorexia nervosa. European Eating Disorders Review, 29(5), 744-755, https://doi.org/10.1002/erv.2852, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/erv.2852. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving

ISSN

1072-4133

EISSN

1099-0968

Additional Links

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/erv.2852