The Neuroscience Behind Binge-Eating

 The Neuroscience Behind Binge-Eating

Binge-eating is the most common eating disorder and affected over 2.8 million of Americans in 2016. (1) In the words of the National Eating Disorder organization, binge-eating is “characterized by recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food; a feeling of a loss of control [...], experiencing shame, distress, or guilt afterwards.” People affected by this disorder will often use unhealthy compensatory actions like purging or consuming laxatives. In this blog post, we will study the neuroscience and neuroanatomy of binge-eating through the article Neurobiology of Binge-Eating Disorder – A Synopsis by Dr. Sanil Rege (2). and drawing parallels to the research paper Reduce caloric intake allows access-induced consumption differences to emerge with concentrated sucrose level by Dr. Milan D Valyear (3). 

In the article Neurobiology of Binge-Eating Disorder – A synopsis, Dr. Sanil Rege discusses the negative physical and mental health consequences of Binge-Eating Disorder (BED). The disorder is fueled by impulsivity and compulsivity, controlled by the prefrontal cortex and striatum. In terms of impulsivity, people affected by BED have a higher impulsivity score (according to Barrat BIS-11 and UPPS impulsivity scales) than obese or normal weight people. The ventral striatum, linked to the thalamus, ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPF) and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) are all involved in the neurobiological pathway of impulsivity. In terms of compulsivity, the repetitive behavior of eating is related to the dorsal striatum, thalamus and the orbitofrontal cortex. In addition to impaired impulsive and compulsive behaviors, patients with BED are more prone to alterations in reward system, with dysregulated appetite-regulating hormones, impaired decision-making behavior and other cognitive deficits. Indeed, the reward circuitry, mediated by dopaminergic pathways is dysregulated in patients with BED.

  The research paper Reduce caloric intake allows access-induced consumption differences to emerge with concentrated sucrose level by Dr. Milan D Valyear and Dr. Roelof Eikelboom studies the differences in caloric intake between intermittent fasting and continuous feeding and how sucrose concentration can affect these intakes. Through three experiments, Dr. Valyear was able to show that access-induced consumption differences were dependent on the duration of the fasting and the concentration of sucrose. In a first experiment, Dr. Valyear studied the impact continuous feeding and intermittent fasting has on caloric intake with low concentration sucrose (4%). In a second experiment, conditions were similar except for sucrose concentration (8%), as well as adding bitter quinine (0.005%) to the sucrose. Finally, in a third experiment, the rats were divided in four groups and were given 8% sucrose concentration with different amounts of quinine (0.0025%, 0.005%, 0.01%, and 0.02%). Results of this experiment proved the complex relationship between taste (bitterness of quinine), caloric intake, fasting, fasting durations.

Both articles provide insight on the neurobiology of different eating habits. In the Neurobiology of Binge-Eating Disorder article by dr. Rege we gain a better understanding of which parts of the brain are impaired in patients with BED. Individuals affected by this disorder will have an unhealthy relationship with food. Similarly, in the research paper by Dr. Valyear studies how different factors, like fasting or sucrose concentration, affect caloric intake in rodents. The study focuses on the relationship between eating behavior, caloric intake, fasting, and taste. Even though the two articles focus on different types of eating behavior, they both offer valuable and intricate insight on the neurobiology behind eating behaviors. 

References

1. Schaeffer, J. (2016, December 19). Binge Eating Disorder Statistics: Know the Facts. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/eating-disorders/binge-eating-disorder-statistics

2. Rege, S. (2022, February 7). Neurobiology of Binge Eating Disorder - A Synopsis. Psych Scene Hub. https://psychscenehub.com/psychinsights/neurobiology-of-binge-eating-disorder/

3. Valyear, M. D., & Eikelboom, R. (2021). Reduced caloric intake allows access-induced consumption differences to emerge with concentrated sucrose solutions. Physiology & Behavior, 234, 113388. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113388