Neurobiology driving hyperactivity in activity-based anorexia

Hyperactivity in anorexia nervosa is difficult to control and negatively impacts outcome. Hyperactivity is a key driving force to starvation in an animal model named activity-based anorexia (ABA). Recent research has started unraveling what mechanisms underlie this hyperactivity. Besides a general i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inCurrent topics in behavioral neurosciences Vol. 6; p. 229
Main Authors Adan, R A H, Hillebrand, J J G, Danner, U N, Cardona Cano, S, Kas, M J H, Verhagen, L A W
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Germany 01.01.2011
Subjects
Analgesics, Opioid
Animals
Anorexia - complications
Anorexia - psychology
Disease Models, Animal
Dopamine
Ghrelin - metabolism
Humans
Hyperkinesis - complications
Leptin - metabolism
Melanocortins
Neurobiology
Neuropeptide Y
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Summary:Hyperactivity in anorexia nervosa is difficult to control and negatively impacts outcome. Hyperactivity is a key driving force to starvation in an animal model named activity-based anorexia (ABA). Recent research has started unraveling what mechanisms underlie this hyperactivity. Besides a general increase in locomotor activity that may be an expression of foraging behavior and involves frontal brain regions, the increased locomotor activity expressed before food is presented (food anticipatory behavior or FAA) involves hypothalamic neural circuits. Ghrelin plays a role in FAA, whereas decreased leptin signaling is involved in both aspects of increased locomotor activity. We hypothesize that increased ghrelin and decreased leptin signaling drive the activity of dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area. In anorexia nervosa patients, this altered activity of the dopamine system may be involved not only in hyperactivity but also in aberrant cognitive processing related to food.
ISSN:1866-3370
DOI:10.1007/7854_2010_77