Advanced Medical Scientist-Programm 2026

Thema: "Nucleus Tractus Solitarii: The Central Player for Brain–Heart Dysregulation in Anorexia Nervosa"

Zusammenfassung:
Autonomic imbalance represents a hallmark feature of anorexia nervosa (AN) and manifests clinically as bradycardia (low heart rate) and exaggerated parasympathetic output, which together increase cardiovascular risk. The neural mechanisms driving this dysregulation remain poorly understood. Recent findings from our group investigating brain–heart communication consistently point to a small brainstem region, the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS), as a central contributor to this imbalance. The NTS serves as the main gateway through which sensory signals from the body influence higher autonomic and emotional control centers, while also coordinating descending command signals that regulate cardiovascular activity. Building on our previous works on dynamic brain connectivity and white-matter organization in AN, this project focuses on the NTS as a potential central node contributing to autonomic imbalance. Using advanced MRI techniques combined with physiological recordings, we will assess NTS structure, connectivity with higher brain regions, and its coupling with cardiac activity across different stages of the disorder. By understanding how altered NTS function disrupts 1 brain–heart communication, this study aims to elucidate the neural mechanisms underlying autonomic imbalance in AN.