title: Effects of sweet and bitter gustatory stimuli in anorexia nervosa on EEG frequency spectra.
abstract: The possible differences in processing gustatory stimuli in anorexic patients compared to healthy control subjects was investigated by electrophysiological methods. The electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded in outpatients treated with anorexia nervosa (AN) and age-matched controls after exposure to sweet (milk chocolate) and bitter (black tea) taste stimuli. Power spectrum analysis was performed on EEG epochs recorded in the above conditions. Compared to controls a significantly higher percent of theta, and lower percent of alpha1 band power was found in anorexic patients, irrespective of the kind of taste effects and hemispheric side. The pattern of activation caused by sweet and bitter stimuli was found to be different in these two groups, possibly indicating altered gustatory processing mechanisms in AN.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Behavioural Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Nagyvárad tér 4, H-1089, Hungary.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tóth
authors.forename: Ferenc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Túry
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gáti
authors.forename: Júlia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weisz
authors.forename: István
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kondákor
authors.forename: Márk
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Molnár
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000513:Alpha Rhythm; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013649:Taste / Q000502:physiology*; D013826:Theta Rhythm