Abnormalities in the EEG power spectrum in bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, and obesity: A systematic review.

To provide a basis for electroencephalography (EEG) neurofeedback protocols for bulimia nervosa (BN), binge-eating disorder (BED), and obesity, this systematic review investigates alterations in EEG-measured brain activity, specifically frequency bands. A systematic literature search with predefined search terms yielded N = 7 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. The risk of bias was assessed for all studies. In resting-state EEG, the beta activity was elevated in fronto-central regions in individuals with obesity and co-morbid BED. In food-cue conditions, both obese individuals with and without BED showed increased beta activity, suggesting increased awareness of food cues and a heightened attentional focus towards food stimuli. The level of beta activity was positively correlated with eating disorder psychopathology in resting and food-cue conditions. In individuals with BN, there was no evidence for altered EEG spectral power. The results indicate specific alterations in EEG-based brain activity in individuals with BED and obesity. More high-quality studies are needed to further confirm these findings and to transfer them into EEG-based interventions.

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© 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.