Avoidance habit learning in adolescents and young women with anorexia nervosa: an fMRI study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Anorexia nervosa (AN), often with an onset in adolescence, is a complex eating disorder characterized by distorted body image, fear of weight gain, and extreme food restriction, leading to severe underweight. Excessive goal pursuit and avoidance behaviors have been proposed as key factors in AN, which over time may become over-trained into habits.

Methods

This study investigated the behavioral and neural correlates of habit learning in AN with an experiment consisting of three consecutive phases: (1) training goal-directed behavior, (2) avoidance learning, and (3) a habit test. Forty-five acutely underweight adolescent female patients with AN and 45 age-matched healthy control participants underwent an fMRI scan.

Results

No behavioral group differences were

SUBMITTER: Hennig J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12699126 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature