Frontal brain asymmetry in restrained eaters.
It is well known that the eating patterns that restrain chronic dieters (restrained eaters) can be disinhibited by anxiety, which in turn has been associated with relative right frontal brain activity in independent electroencephalographic (EEG) studies. Combining these two lines of evidence, the authors tested the hypothesis that chronic restrained eating is associated with relative right frontal asymmetry. Resting anterior brain asymmetry and self-reported measures of anxiety and depression were collected in 23 restrained and 32 unrestrained eaters. As hypothesized, groups differed in tonic frontal activity, with restrained eaters showing more relative right frontal activity. Furthermore, relative right frontal activity was associated with greater self-reported restraint. Right-sided prefrontal asymmetry may thus represent a diathesis associated with increased vulnerability toward restrained eating.
Silva
Jaime R
JR
Psychobiology Department, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
Pizzagalli
Diego A
DA
Larson
Christine L
CL
Jackson
Daren C
DC
Davidson
Richard J
RJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001931:Brain Mapping; D004569:Electroencephalography; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies