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rTMS for Food Choice in Anorexia Nervosa

This study is looking at how a treatment called high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-rTMS) affects food choices and brain activity in people with Anorexia Nervosa (AN). HF-rTMS uses magnetic pulses to stimulate specific areas of the brain. Researchers want to see if stimulating a certain brain area (the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex or DLPFC) can change restrictive eating behaviors. You might be able to join if you are a woman between 18 and 35 years old, have an AN diagnosis, and are currently an inpatient at NYSPI. The study will measure changes in brain activity and eating behaviors during a food choice task about one week after treatment to see if the intervention is successful. The current status of this study is unclear.

Study design
This is a double-blinded randomized study with 72 participants. Participants will receive either active HF-rTMS or a sham (inactive) rTMS.
What's involved
Participants will receive one administration of either active or sham HF-rTMS. Measurements of brain activity and eating behavior will be taken at the start and approximately one week after treatment.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants are followed for approximately one week after treatment to measure primary endpoints.

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NCT05918835

Effects of rTMS on Food Choice in Anorexia Nervosa

Recruiting
NAAges 18–35InterventionalBasic science
New York State Psychiatric Institute
~72 participants
Updated 2026-07-15 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:High-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (active rTMS)Sham repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (sham rTMS)

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Neural activity and functional connectivity during the food choice task
Measured over Baseline to post-treatment (approx. 1 week apart)
+1 more outcome measured

Conditions

Anorexia Nervosa

Explore related trials

Anorexia Nervosa

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
New York1

Study leadership

  • Alexandra F Muratore, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · New York Sate Psychiatric Institute

Who to contact

Alexandra F Muratore, PhD
[email protected]
646-774-8053
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

DSM-5 Diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa
Age 18-35 years
Female
Right-handed
Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 16.0
Voluntarily admitted to inpatient eating disorders unit at NYSPI
Competent to provide informed consent
English-speaking
Medically stable

Exclusion

High risk of suicide
Current substance use disorder or other co- morbid psychiatric condition requiring specialized treatment (e.g., psychosis)
Diagnosis of major medical or neurological problem or taking medication that significantly increases risk for seizure or affects interpretation of findings (e.g., unstable hypertension, seizure disorder)
Food restrictions (e.g., allergies) which impact greater than 30% of food choice task's choice options
Indwelling ferromagnetic metallic object (e.g., pacemaker, pump), non- removable metal jewelry, medicinal patch or recent metallic ink tattoo
History of seizure
Diagnosis of epilepsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases, meningoencephalitis or intracerebral abscess, or parenchymal or leptomeningeal cancers
Prior exposure to TMS
Pregnancy
Currently breast-feeding
Significant claustrophobia
Implanted devices or stimulators
Hearing loss (e.g., currently undergoing treatment with ototoxic medications or those with cochlear implants)

What this trial measures

  • Neural activity and functional connectivity during the food choice taskBaseline to post-treatment (approx. 1 week apart)

    Change in: food choice-related BOLD activity within the dorsal striatum, food choice-related functional Change in: connectivity between the dorsal striatum and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex

  • Restrictive eating behavior during the food choice taskBaseline to post-treatment (approx. 1 week apart)

    Change in: proportion of high-fat foods selected; proportion of trials in which participants had an opportunity to implement self-control; proportion of trials in which participants implemented self-control