Functionally, these neurons are either motor (conducting impulses that will cause activity such as the contraction of muscles) or association (conducting impulses and permitting 'communication' between neurons within the central nervous system).
The scant research that has been done on the causes of pica suggests that the disorder is a specific appetite caused by mineral deficiency in many cases, such as iron deficiency, which sometimes is a result of celiac disease or hookworm infection.
Causes of Similar Symptoms to Pica. Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Pica: 1  Eating symptoms (2462 causes). 2  Cravings (32 causes). 3  Food symptoms (1907 causes). 4  Iron deficiency anaemia. 5  Pregnancy (699 causes). 6  Psychiatric disorder.