Overgeneralization of Conditioned Fear as a Pathogenic Marker of Anorexia Nervosa

The overarching objective of the current proposal is to examine the feasibility of applying a generalization of conditioned fear-potentiated startle paradigm, which has been used successfully to measure the sensitivity of fear networks in anxiety disorders, to adults with anorexia nervosa. The specific aim will be to examine whether conditioned-fear generalization gradients in anorexia nervosa participants differ from those in healthy controls. It is hypothesized that anorexia nervosa participants will display stronger generalization as indicated by less quadratic generalization gradients (i.e., a more gradual decline in conditioned fear as the generalization stimuli deviate from the conditioned fearful stimuli), which is indicative of a heightened sensitivity, or lower thresholds of activation, in the fear circuit (i.e., less danger information necessary to trigger the fear).

Inclusion criteria

• Adults (age≥18)

a. Anorexics

• Meet criteria for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) anorexia nervosa

b. Controls

• age matched
• sex-matched

Exclusion criteria

• Criteria are met for a current or past Axis I disorder.
• Inability to read English
• Pregnancy/lactation
• Acute suicidality
• Medical instability as determined by a medical history visit and serum electrolyte testing,
• Medical conditions that may place the participant at risk (e.g., cardiovascular condition)
• Current use of medication that alter central nervous system function