Aims
This study aims to investigate the brain and hormonal responses involved in food consumption decisions in people with Anorexia Nervosa (AN). Using brain imaging, neural activity during real choices to consume or reject a milkshake are observed. In addition, the study examines cognitive, psychological, and behavioural factors identified as important by individuals with lived experience of AN. By advancing our understanding of the biological underpinnings of restrictive eating in AN, this research has the potential to inform the development of novel treatment strategies and represents a critical step toward biologically informed interventions for AN.

Background
Anorexia nervosa involves the gradual development of a highly fearful and aversive reaction to food, however the brain pathways underlying this have never been directly examined using food and eating behaviour. While psychological explanations for caloric restriction are partially understood, far less is known about the biological mechanisms. Previous studies have examined brain responses to images of food, but few have looked at real-time consumption or the interaction between appetite-regulating and stress hormones and brain activity.

As a result, our treatments for this aspect of the illness are rather blunt and lack any understanding of mechanisms.

Our novel design allows this to be looked at for the first time. Leveraging the new MRI scanner housed within the Charles Perkins Centre, the state‑of‑the‑art technology will allow researchers to move beyond image-based food cue research by integrating real-time brain activity, consumption and hormone-brain interactions.

By looking at other biological systems that likely play a role in the reaction to food - such as hormones and the gut - we are hoping to improve our understanding of the influence of biological factors upon eating behaviours in AN and build a picture of systems that we can effectively target to provide treatment and enhance recovery.