Cerebral blood volume changes in patients with eating disorders during word fluency: a preliminary study using multi-channel near infrared spectroscopy

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the characteristics of cerebral oxygenation changes in eating disorders patients (ED) and normal controls during the cognitive tasks, using a highly time-resolved, and non-invasive instrument. METHOD: Eleven female patients with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa were recruited, and 11 healthy females participated. The relative concentrations of oxy-hemoglobin [o-Hb] and deoxy-hemoglobin [d-Hb] were measured during word fluency task using multichannel near infrared spectroscopy (NIBS). RESULTS: The increases of o-Hb and d-Hb during the task were compared between the groups. ED patients showed lower activation and a gradual increase in o-HB during the task. In the frontal, d-HB concentrations decreased during the task in ED patients. CONCLUSION: These specific patterns of oxygenation changes may indicate less supply and less demand of cerebral blood volume. Bedside measurements of cerebral oxygenation changes using NIRS are useful on understanding of neurophysiological features of ED. (Eating Weight Disord. 12: 183-190, 2007). (C) 2007, Editrice Kurtis