← Eichor
Study identifier: NCT05056597 Synced from ClinicalTrials.gov · July 30, 2026
● Recruiting

Incentive Processing and Learning in Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa

Condition: Anorexia Nervosa · Bulimia Nervosa  ·  Sponsor: University of California, San Diego

PhaseN/A
Planned participants252
Who can joinFemale, 18 Years to 39 Years
Healthy volunteersYes

About this study

The purpose of this study is to investigate areas of the brain responsible for 'liking', 'wanting', and learning in adults with eating disorders using brain imaging techniques, computer tasks, a test meal, and self-report questionnaires and interviews. The investigators will study changes in brain activity using a procedure called functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). This study will include 252 women with an eating disorder (63 AN-restricting type (AN-R), 63 AN-binge eating/purging type (AN-BP), 63 bulimia nervosa (BN)) and 63 healthy controls (HC) aged 18-39. Aim 1: To examine neural differences in 'liking' and 'wanting' in ED relative to HC. Aim 2: To examine differences in instrumental learning for reward and punishment in ED relative to HC. Aim 3: To examine how 'liking' and 'wanting' drive instrumental learning in ED and predict clinical symptoms at baseline and 1 year later. Exploratory Aim: To explore the associations of dopamine function, as measured by neuromelanin MRI (NM-MRI), with ED diagnosis and brain response to 'liking', 'wanting', and learning.

This description comes directly from the study's public registry record.

Talk to the study team

Christina Wierenga  ·  858-534-8047  ·  cwierenga@health.ucsd.edu

Always discuss trial participation with your own doctor first.

Locations (1)

UCSD Eating Disorders Treatment and Research ProgramLa Jolla, California, United StatesRecruiting

Follow this study

Get one email when the public record changes — results posted, or the study's status changes. Nothing else, ever.

We email about this public record only. Unsubscribe anytime with one click. Never medical advice. By subscribing you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Is this your study? This page was generated automatically from the public registry record. Sponsors can claim it — free — to add branding and verified contact routing. Claim this page →

This page is independently generated by Eichor from the public ClinicalTrials.gov record and re-synced daily. It is not the sponsor's official website unless claimed. Nothing here is medical advice; eligibility is always determined by the study team — talk to your own doctor first.

Source record: clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05056597