Exploring the Potential Shared Pathology of Eating Disorders and Addiction: A Behavioral Neuroscience Approach

Date

2021

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Department of Psychology, University of Tampa

Abstract

This literature review will examine the potential overlapping neural contributions to eating disorders and addiction from a behavioral neuroscience perspective. The major similarities between eating disorders and alcohol abuse are related to dopamine (DA) activity within structures of the prefrontal cortex. Specifically , abnormal DA and other neurochemical function and structural differences are evident within the medial orbitofrontal cortex, ventromedial prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, and ventral striatum. Differences in these regions and their circuits appear to contribute to the impulsive and reinforcing behaviors that are exhibited in both types of disorders. For instance, commonalities found between eating disorders and addiction include the sensitization of DA systems and high medial prefrontal cortex activation in response to food or during drug cravings. Research seems to suggest that these similarities can increase the likelihood of someone with an eating disorder developing substance abuse, but not vice versa. Additionally, evidence suggests that the pathology of bulimia nervosa may be more similar to that of alcoholism and other substance abuse disorders than the pathology of anorexia. Thus, there may be a greater probability of bulimics developing alcoholism and other substance abuse disorders than anorexics; however, the structural and functional similarities still suggest risk in all eating disorders.

Description

Recommended Citation: Colaianni, Allison. “Exploring the Potential Shared Pathology of Eating Disorders and Addiction: A Behavioral Neuroscience Approach.” Acta Spartae, 2021. https://doi.org/10.48497/X3GR-YA07.

Keywords

Eating Disorders, Behavioral Neuroscience, Dopamine (DA) activity

Citation

Colaianni, Allison. “Exploring the Potential Shared Pathology of Eating Disorders and Addiction: A Behavioral Neuroscience Approach.” Acta Spartae, 2021. https://doi.org/10.48497/X3GR-YA07.