The MBB Lunch Series is free and open to the Harvard community. For lunch, please RSVP.

Impact of gut microbiome composition on neuroendocrine signaling and feeding behavior in avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder
Stephanie Harshman
Research Fellow, Neuroendocrine Unit
Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) was recently added to DSM-5 and is common among children, adolescents, and young adults. ARFID is characterized by restrictive eating defined by consuming an inadequate volume or variety of food. Most individuals with ARFID limit their diet to processed grains and dairy foods but avoid fruits, vegetables, and protein. The health consequences of ARFID include poor growth, low weight, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and psychosocial impairment; however the pathophysiology remains totally unknown. Restricted dietary patterns have many consequences including altering the gut microbiota profile and levels of key appetite- regulating hormones that act as messengers between gut and brain. Conversely, the gut microbiota may contribute to persistent restrictive feeding behaviors by generating cravings for preferred foods or reducing overall food intake. Currently there are no studies that have examined the dietary characteristics or the microbiome in ARFID and its contribution to maladaptive feeding behaviors via neuroendocrine modulation. For the Mind Brain Behavior Interfaculty Initiative presentation, I will present on two objectives: our examination of dietary intake defined by diet variety, macro- and micronutrient intake in children and adolescents with full or subthreshold ARFID in comparison to healthy controls by four-day food record, and our preliminary evaluation of microbiome composition among individuals with full or subthreshold ARFID and healthy controls.

Neural Correlates of Abnormal Orientation Perception in a Neuropsychological Case Study
JohnMark Taylor
Graduate Student, Psychology
A young woman, "Davida", was born with a specific difficulty in correctly perceiving the orientation of certain stimuli, and a series of behavioral tests detailed the nature and scope of this deficit. In this ongoing study, we have been investigating the neural basis of her unusual perception using fMRI; preliminary evidence potentially suggests abnormal processing in early visual cortex and the dorsal visual pathway, with seemingly spared orientation processing in various higher-level ventral visual regions.