of the left ventromedial PFC during the selection of the most negative word from negative body-image related word sets (compared to during the selection of the most neutral word from neutral word sets)47. Such differences were not observed for generally negative words, indicating this region’s activation was driven by words that are most strongly related to the actual concerns of this patient group. Taken together with the results in the pathological gamblers described above42, ventromedial PFC responses may track the emotional relevance of cues of highest concern to the patient population in question (that is, winning or avoiding loss for individuals with pathological gambling, body image for individuals with eating disorders and drug-related cues for drug-addicted individuals) and could serve as a target for tracking therapeutic interventions in addiction, as was recently suggested48,49.
