What this Trial Is About

People with BE are characterized by high impulsivity, high levels of craving for high-calorie foods, deficits in inhibitory control, and maladaptive decision making. These characteristics are related, at brain level, to alterations in the activation of areas such as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) among other brain areas and their connectivity. The investigators propose an intervention that seeks to target these issues. Thus, the present study aims to characterize the effects of neuromodulation with intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) of the DLPFC or the vmPFC in combination with inhibitory control training to produce brain, cognitive and behavioral changes, and modify altered biological parameters in people with BE. Participants will be randomly allocated to one of three groups: 1) a group that will receive active iTBS of the DLPFC together with inhibitory control training with a food Go/NoGo paradigm, and 2) a group that will receive active iTBS of the vmPFC together with inhibitory control training with a food Go/NoGo paradigm, and 3) an active control group that will receive sham iTBS together with inhibitory control training with a food Go/NoGo paradigm. The investigators hypothesized that neuromodulation with iTBS applied to DLPFC or vmPFC will modify the dynamics of different brain circuits associated with binge eating. Neuromodulation of the DLPFC or vmPFC in combination with inhibitory control training, will be associated with: (i) decreased appraisal of unhealthy foods, (ii) reduced food craving, (iii) improved eating behavior, (iv) modified brain connectivity and activation both at rest and linked to task performance with food stimuli, (v) a decrease in the frequency and intensity of binge eating, (vi) improved emotional symptoms and emotional eating (depression, anxiety, emotional regulation, emotional eating, reward-related eating, non-homeostatic eating), (vii) improved cognitive abilities (motor and cognitive inhibition, delay of gratification, impulsivity, working memory, cognitive flexibility and decision making), (viii) changes in biological parameters associated to the interventions (plasma and microbiota), and (ix) advantages in cost-effectiveness and cost-utility based on economic evaluation analyses.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Inhibitory Control Training to Reduce Binge Eating: Brain and Behavioral Changes