# Neural Effects of Negative Affect on Food Choices and Reward Processing In Individuals with Binge Eating Episodes

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2020 · $42,525

## Abstract

Project Summary
Binge-eating is characterized by recurrent episodes of eating large amounts of foods, eating much more
rapidly than normal and until feeling uncomfortably full, as well as feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed,
or guilty after those episodes. Two eating disorders are characterized by binge-eating as central diagnostic
criteria, bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge eating disorder (BED). Behavior studies have shown that negative
affect and negative urgency (the tendency to act rashly when distressed) often drive binge-eating. A
knowledge gap exists for 1) what neurobiological underpinnings are associated with negative affect that leads
to loss of control and drives binge-eating, 2) whether neurotransmitter related brain circuits can be specifically
linked to binge-eating, and 3) whether brain imaging can identify a brain based vulnerability for negative affect
and excessive food intake in the natural environment. This application will study binge-eating across
diagnostic categories, in individuals at normal weight with BN and obese individuals with BED, in contrast with
normal weight or obese controls. We will apply the constructs cognitive control and positive valence system
from NIMH's Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) project together with functional magnetic resonance brain
imaging. In Aim 1. we will test whether negative affect alters brain reinforcement learning during a dopamine
anchored taste reward paradigm. In Aim 2. we will study during a food choice paradigm the effects of negative
affect on brain circuitry for cognitive control and food valuation. Aim 3. is to test whether brain activation
predicts food intake or negative affect in a person's naturalistic environment, using ecological momentary
assessment and meal observation. Binge-eating associated disorders are major health concerns with reduced
quality of life and increased mortality rate, and the available treatments are limited. The neurobiology
underlying binge-eating is not well understood and has not specifically been studied in a transdiagnostic
approach using the NIMH's research domain criteria. This project will bridge affective-cognitive research
knowledge with neurobiological brain research across eating disorders characterized by binge-eating as
primary symptom. It will fill an important research and knowledge gap to develop intervention-directed
research in the future.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10028560
- **Project number:** 3R01MH112681-04S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Guido KW Frank
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $42,525
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2017-12-26 → 2022-10-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10028560

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10028560, Neural Effects of Negative Affect on Food Choices and Reward Processing In Individuals with Binge Eating Episodes (3R01MH112681-04S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10028560. Licensed CC0.

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