Files
Abstract
This dissertation examined how women respond emotionally and cognitively to body‑related stimuli across age groups and in recovery from anorexia nervosa (AN). Younger and older women showed similar body‑image ratings and working‑memory disruption from body images, despite age‑related differences in affect and societal pressure. Women recovered from AN also showed normal behavioral performance but displayed distinct brain activity, including heightened amygdala and fusiform responses and greater medial prefrontal suppression. These findings suggest that similar behavior can arise from different neural mechanisms and that compensatory brain processes may support recovery in AN.