ASSESSMENT OF BRAIN-FUNCTION IN ADOLESCENT ANOREXIA-NERVOSA BEFORE AND AFTER WEIGHT-GAIN

This study assessed brain function in 20 adolescent females with anore xia nervosa (PIN) and 20 controls using event-related potentials (ERPs ) and a battery of neuropsychological tests. In the AN group, N4 laten cies for a nonverbal memory task were significantly longer than for a verbal task, and P3 latencies for the verbal task were significantly l onger among anorexics as compared to controls. On the nonverbal task, the AN group failed to show a right > left hemispheric asymmetry for P 3 amplitudes which was observed for controls. These group differences for P3 latency and amplitude were particularly pronounced in the centr al-parietal region of the head. Body Mass Index (BMI) in the anorexic group significantly predicted N4 amplitudes for the verbal task in the left hemisphere and P3 amplitudes for the nonverbal task in the right hemisphere. The two groups did not differ on any of the tests used to assess neuropsychological functioning. Eight nutritionally recovered patients and their matched controls were retested using the same proce dures. Anorexics showed larger P3 amplitudes for the verbal as compare d to the nonverbal task at follow-up. These findings provide evidence for localized brain dysfunction in anorexia nervosa that only partiall y normalizes with weight gain.