The Effect of Neurofeedback on Eating Behaviour

Obesity Clinical Trial

Official title: Modulating Functional Connectivity Between Eating-related Brain Areas by Neurofeedback

Status Recruiting

Clinical Trial Summary

Neuroimaging is becoming increasingly common to investigate the neural networks underlying eating behaviour and food preference in normal-weight and obese humans. It has been observed that obese in comparison to lean individuals display altered activation patterns in networks of brain areas involved in reward, emotion and cognitive control. Interestingly, obese individuals who are capable of losing weight appear to have a stronger connectivity between areas related to food value and to the control of eating behaviour. The same areas are also associated with healthy food choices. It has been suggested that activation in the prefrontal control areas indirectly modulate valuation-related activity. Based on this, brain-related intervention strategies to support weight loss and long-lasting weight maintenance are of particular interest. Hence, we first want to examine the effect on eating behaviour of neurofeedback training-induced up-regulation of functional connectivity between reward- and impulse-related brain areas as a pilot, and second we want to examine up-regulation of the activity of prefrontal control brain areas.

Clinical Trial Description

Primary objective: We want to investigate whether the training-induced up-regulation of the dorsal prefrontal cortex inhibits eating behaviour.

Study design: A parallel design. Half of the participants will learn to up-regulate activity of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), while the other participants will participate in sham-training sessions. Adherence to experimental conditions will be assigned randomly, based on the participants' enrolment in the study, balanced by gender and binge eating classification.

Study population: 50 overweight and obese (BMI 25-40 kg/m2), but otherwise healthy individuals, 18-65 years old.

Intervention: All participants will participate in a screening day, followed by one neurofeedback session day and a follow-up day. During the neurofeedback session, participants will undergo a 45 min real-time-fMRI-brain-computer-interface scan in order to learn to up-regulate dlPFC activation.

Main study parameters/endpoints:

1. The ability to up-regulate dlPFC activity.

2. Respective effects on eating behaviour. Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation: Participants will be scanned once (fMRI). Functional MRI is a safe and non-invasive technique. ;

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Single Blind (Subject), Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Eating Behaviour
• Obesity

• NCT number: NCT02148770
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: University Hospital Tuebingen
• Contact: Manfred Hallschmid, PhD
• Phone: +49 7071 29-8825
• Email: Manfred.Hallschmid@uni-tuebingen.de
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: November 2014
• Completion date: May 2017