Brain study seeks to unlock reward learning in anorexia
NCT ID NCT05531604
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looks at how people with anorexia nervosa learn to associate positive feelings with sounds like baby laughter. Researchers will measure brain activity, heart rate, and pupil responses in 90 females aged 12-22. The goal is to understand if and how positive associations are formed and remembered, which could inform future treatments.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this research could reveal how reward learning works in anorexia, potentially guiding future therapies.
- What could go wrong
- This is an observational study, not a treatment trial. It may not lead directly to new treatments, and results may not apply to all patients.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Toronto, Ontario, M6J 1H3, Canada
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