Exploring eye-movement changes as digital biomarkers and endophenotypes in subclinical eating disorders: an eye tracking study Articles uri icon

authors

  • NAVAS LEÓN, SERGIO
  • SANCHEZ MARTIN, MILAGROSA
  • TAJADURA JIMENEZ, ANA
  • DE COSTER, LIZE
  • BORDÁ MÁS, MERCEDES
  • MORALES, LUIS

publication date

  • February 2025

start page

  • 1

end page

  • 12

issue

  • 133

volume

  • 25

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 1471-244X

abstract

  • Objective
    Previous research has indicated that patients with Anorexia Nervosa (AN) exhibit specific eye movement changes, identified through eye tracking sensor technology. These changes have been proposed as potential digital biomarkers and endophenotypes for early diagnosis and preventive clinical interventions. This study aims to explore whether these eye movement changes are also present in individuals with subclinical eating disorder (ED) symptomatology compared to control participants.

    Method
    The study recruited participants using convenience sampling and employed the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire for initial screening. The sample was subsequently divided into two groups: individuals exhibiting subclinical ED symptomatology and control participants. Both groups performed various tasks, including a fixation task, prosaccade/antisaccade task, and memory-guided task. Alongside these tasks, anxiety and premorbid intelligence were measured as potential confounding variables. The data were analyzed through means comparison and exploratory Pearson"s correlations.

    Results
    No significant differences were found between the two groups in the three eye tracking tasks.

    Discussion
    The findings suggest that the observed changes in previous research might be more related to the clinical state of the illness rather than a putative trait. Implications for the applicability of eye movement changes as early biomarkers and endophenotypes for EDs in subclinical populations are discussed. Further research is needed to validate these findings and understand their implications for preventive diagnostics.