# Neurobiological and Psychological Maintenance Mechanisms Associated with Anticipatory Reward in Bulimia Nervosa

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · 2020 · $192,500

## Abstract

Abstract
The purpose of this investigation is to identify the anticipatory reward mechanisms that maintain bulimic
behavior in bulimia nervosa. Emerging data indicate the importance of reward and anticipatory processes as
maintenance mechanisms of bulimia nervosa that can be targeted in existing and novel treatments. The
proposed research will identify neurobiological and psychological anticipatory mechanisms of bulimic behavior
using fMRI as well as ecological momentary assessment (EMA) in the natural environment. In this
investigation, 60 adults (30 with bulimia nervosa and 30 comparison participants) will undergo negative and
positive mood inductions followed by an fMRI food selection task (and a comparison shopping task) to examine
neurobiological and affective responses to behavior anticipation. Because these anticipatory processes are
hypothesized contributors to illness maintenance, duration of illness will be examined as a moderator. To
examine the ecological validity of our fMRI results, participants with bulimia nervosa will complete two weeks of
ecological momentary assessment (EMA) examining real-time affect changes in relation to the anticipation of
bulimic behavior. These methods will facilitate rigorous assessment of the links between neurobiological (fMRI)
and naturalistic (EMA) data in anticipatory reward processes. Findings from this investigation will inform the
conceptualization and treatment of bulimia nervosa by identifying the role of reward anticipation in symptom
maintenance, providing a crucial framework for targeting these anticipatory processes in the existing and novel
interventions.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9974812
- **Project number:** 1R21MH119417-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- **Principal Investigator:** CAROL B. PETERSON
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $192,500
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-05-01 → 2022-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9974812

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9974812, Neurobiological and Psychological Maintenance Mechanisms Associated with Anticipatory Reward in Bulimia Nervosa (1R21MH119417-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9974812. Licensed CC0.

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