Brain zapping study seeks to unlock eating secrets in anorexia
NCT ID NCT05918835
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 16, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This study uses a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to explore how it changes food choices and brain activity in people with anorexia nervosa. Researchers will give a single session of rTMS to 72 women aged 18-30 who are hospitalized for anorexia. The goal is to understand the brain mechanisms behind restrictive eating, not to treat the disorder directly.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this study could reveal how brain stimulation affects food choices in anorexia, pointing toward future treatments that target eating behaviors.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study with only 72 participants, all female and in a hospital setting. Results may not apply to everyone with anorexia, and the stimulation is given just once, so any effects are temporary.
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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
-
New York State Psychiatric Institute
RECRUITINGNew York, New York, 10032, United States
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