Brain zaps and text alerts: new hope for bulimia?

NCT ID NCT07581158

First seen May 29, 2026 · Last updated Jun 20, 2026 · Updated 4 times

Summary

This study tests whether a combination of real-time brain training (using a wearable brain scanner called fNIRS) and personalized text messages can help women with bulimia nervosa improve self-control and reduce binge eating. Forty women aged 18-55 will receive either real or sham neurofeedback while viewing images and eating, followed by a 4-week text-messaging program. The goal is to see if this non-invasive approach can strengthen brain circuits involved in self-regulation and ease eating disorder symptoms.

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This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Contacts and locations

Study contacts

  • Contact

    Email: •••••@•••••

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

Locations

  • Center for Computational Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

    New York, New York, 10027, United States

    Contact

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

real-time fNIRS neurofeedback and smartphone text-messaging intervention

What this could lead to

If it works, this could point toward a non-invasive, drug-free way to help people with bulimia nervosa gain better control over eating behaviors.

What could go wrong

This is a small, early-stage study (40 participants) testing a new approach. The neurofeedback may not produce lasting changes, and results may not apply to everyone with bulimia.

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

binge eating disorder bulimia nervosa eating disorder Feeding and Eating Disorders mental disorder psychiatric disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.