Cognitive and neural correlates of inhibitory control in subclinical disordered eating.

Despite the well-known heterogeneity in the clinical presentation of EDs (i.e. restrictive vs. binge-eating/purging types) contributing factors remain poorly understood. Impairment of inhibitory control in EDs is suggested to play a key role in EDs symptomatology: binge-eating/purging types exhibit poor inhibitory control, associated with overall hypo-activity of the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (rDLPFC), whereas restrictive types show excessive inhibitory control and a corresponding hyperactivity of the rDLPFC. However, it is currently an open question to what extent impaired inhibitory control may causally contribute the development of EDs. To this end, we will carry out a large-scale study investigating whether alterations in cognitive and neural inhibitory control, measured by means of an inhibition task (Stop-Signal task) and electrophysiological measures (RS-EEG, P3), already manifest itself across subclinical EDs. An early detection of problems in IC may has important implications regarding prevention. To this end, an additional objective is to determine high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) delivered over the DLPFC can lead to an improvement of inhibitory control and related self-reported eating behaviors in subclinical EDs. Support for an improvement of inhibitory control may serve as input for the development of evidence-based tDCS protocols in prevention and treatment programs, leading to better therapy outcomes and a decline in the common relapse in EDs.