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Labonté K, Fantino M, Nielsen DE. Disentangling inhibition toward food and non-food stimuli across two hunger levels: An fNIRS study. Appetite 2024; 203:107678. [PMID: 39277924 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2024] [Revised: 08/01/2024] [Accepted: 09/10/2024] [Indexed: 09/17/2024]
Abstract
While individuals tend to display poorer inhibitory control toward food-related than neutral stimuli, it is unclear whether this challenge is specific to food or extends to other pleasant stimuli. Uncertainty also remains regarding the general impact of hunger on inhibition. To address these questions, we used a within-subjects design whereby 44 healthy adults completed two go/no-go tasks including no-go images of highly palatable foods and no-go images of animals matched for valence and physical properties. Both tasks were completed one week apart in either a fed or a fasted state. Prefrontal cortex activity was measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Poorer behavioral inhibition was observed when participants needed to withhold their response to images of food compared to animals, regardless of hunger state. In addition, more commission errors were made in the fasted compared to the fed condition, regardless of the type of image to avoid responding to. Responses to go trials were slower when these trials were interspersed with food compared to animal no-go trials. However, hunger did not influence go response time. Greater activation was observed in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during blocks of trials with (vs. without) no-go images, but brain activity did not differ according to the type of no-go image. The effect of hunger on prefrontal brain activity was also not significant. Exploratory correlations showed that food-related inhibition deficits were positively related to self-reported impulsivity, but unrelated to body mass index. This study suggests that even among healthy adults, food-related inhibitory control may have a unique behavioral signature beyond general inhibition toward pleasant stimuli. Hunger also exerts an independent influence on general inhibitory capabilities, highlighting the importance of carefully controlling hunger levels in inhibition studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Labonté
- School of Human Nutrition, McGill University, Macdonald-Stewart Building, 21111 Lakeshore Road, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, H9X 3V9, Canada.
| | - Manon Fantino
- School of Human Nutrition, McGill University, Macdonald-Stewart Building, 21111 Lakeshore Road, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, H9X 3V9, Canada.
| | - Daiva E Nielsen
- School of Human Nutrition, McGill University, Macdonald-Stewart Building, 21111 Lakeshore Road, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, H9X 3V9, Canada.
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2
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Guo J, Wan X, Lian J, Ma H, Dong D, Liu Y, Zhao J. Electrophysiological Characteristics of Inhibitive Control for Adults with Different Physiological or Psychological Obesity. Nutrients 2024; 16:1252. [PMID: 38732499 PMCID: PMC11085209 DOI: 10.3390/nu16091252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Individuals exhibiting high scores on the fatness subscale of the negative-physical-self scale (NPSS-F) are characterized by heightened preoccupation with body fat accompanied by negative body image perceptions, often leading to excessive dieting behaviors. This demographic constitutes a considerable segment of the populace in China, even among those who are not obese. Nonetheless, scant empirical inquiries have delved into the behavioral and neurophysiological profiles of individuals possessing a healthy body mass index (BMI) alongside elevated NPSS-F scores. This study employed an experimental paradigm integrating go/no-go and one-back tasks to assess inhibitory control and working memory capacities concerning food-related stimuli across three adult cohorts: those with normal weight and low NPSS-F scores, those with normal weight and high NPSS-F scores, and individuals classified as obese. Experimental stimuli comprised high- and low-caloric-food pictures with concurrent electroencephalogram (EEG) and photoplethysmogram (PPG) recordings. Individuals characterized by high NPSS-F scores and normal weight exhibited distinctive electrophysiological responses compared to the other two cohorts, evident in event-related potential (ERP) components, theta and alpha band oscillations, and heart rate variability (HRV) patterns. In essence, the findings underscore alterations in electrophysiological reactivity among individuals possessing high NPSS-F scores and a healthy BMI in the context of food-related stimuli, underscoring the necessity for increased attention to this demographic alongside individuals affected by obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Guo
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (J.G.); (X.W.); (J.L.); (H.M.); (D.D.)
| | - Xiaofang Wan
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (J.G.); (X.W.); (J.L.); (H.M.); (D.D.)
| | - Junwei Lian
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (J.G.); (X.W.); (J.L.); (H.M.); (D.D.)
| | - Hanqing Ma
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (J.G.); (X.W.); (J.L.); (H.M.); (D.D.)
| | - Debo Dong
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (J.G.); (X.W.); (J.L.); (H.M.); (D.D.)
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yong Liu
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (J.G.); (X.W.); (J.L.); (H.M.); (D.D.)
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Jia Zhao
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (J.G.); (X.W.); (J.L.); (H.M.); (D.D.)
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
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Berebbi S, Naftalovich H, Weinbach N, Kalanthroff E. Fostering positive attitudes toward food in individuals with restrained eating: the impact of flexible food-related inhibition. J Eat Disord 2024; 12:41. [PMID: 38509611 PMCID: PMC10956199 DOI: 10.1186/s40337-024-00995-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Individuals exhibiting restrained eating behaviors demonstrate increased inhibitory control when exposed to food-related stimuli, indicating the presence of an automatic food-inhibition association. Existing literature proposes that this association contributes to the devaluation of food within this population. Efforts to disrupt this association by promoting the complete elimination of the inhibition of food responses have resulted in increased food consumption but have also led to heightened food-related anxiety in individuals with restrained eating behaviors. In the current investigation, we investigated whether a novel flexible food response/inhibition computerized task could yield favorable changes in attitudes toward food in individuals with restrained eating. We randomly assigned 78 females who engage in restrained eating to one of three training groups. In the flexible response/inhibition group, participants were instructed to equally inhibit or respond to food stimuli. In the response group, participants consistently responded to food stimuli, while in the inhibition group, participants consistently inhibited their response to food cues. Implicit attitudes toward food were assessed both before and after the manipulation. To examine the stability of the effect of the training, participants also engaged in a seemingly unrelated bogus taste test. Our results revealed that only the flexible response/inhibition group demonstrated a significant improvement in positive attitudes toward high-calorie foods after eating, while there were no observable changes in negative attitudes among the other two groups. These findings suggest that promoting a balance between the responding and inhibiting responses to food stimuli can increase positive attitudes toward food amongst individuals with restrained eating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shir Berebbi
- Department of Psychology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
| | - Hadar Naftalovich
- Department of Psychology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Noam Weinbach
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Eyal Kalanthroff
- Department of Psychology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, USA
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Flack KD, Anderson III RE, McFee KF, Day BT. Characterizing motor impulsivity of individuals classified as overweight to obese. SPORTS MEDICINE AND HEALTH SCIENCE 2023; 5:314-318. [PMID: 38314047 PMCID: PMC10831366 DOI: 10.1016/j.smhs.2023.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Deficits in the impulse control system are an important predictor of energy intake and body weight. Adults classified as overweight to obese may possess these deficits as a general behavioral trait or they may be food-specific. The present study assessed motor impulsivity (ability to suppress a pre-potent response) when presented with food and neutral (non-food) cues, testing if deficits in motor impulsivity is specific to food cues or a general trait among participants classified as overweight to obese. The proportion of inhibitory failures to no-go targets following food cues (10.8%) was significantly greater than the proportion of inhibitory failures to no-go targets following neutral cues (1.9%, p < 0.001). These differences remained when covering for sex and hunger. This indicates deficits in food-specific impulse control (as opposed to general impulse control) are present in those classified as overweight to obese. Understanding the specific aspect of impulse control that is present in this population is needed for the development of future impulse control training interventions that seek to change eating behaviors as a means for weight control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle D. Flack
- Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, College of Agriculture, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Robert E. Anderson III
- Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, College of Agriculture, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Kylie F. McFee
- Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, College of Agriculture, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Bridgette T. Day
- Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, College of Agriculture, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
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Attanasio M, Giuliani A, Romano L, Laidò C, Di Poggiovalle G, Le Donne I, Di Fonzo V, Tiberti S, Valenti M, Mazza M. Psychopathological factors and personality dimensions on dysfunctional eating behaviors in a sample of individuals with obesity. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1140890. [PMID: 37794917 PMCID: PMC10546769 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1140890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Obesity and eating disorders are considered to be part of a broad spectrum of disorders associated with weight issues and maladaptive eating styles. Several studies show that psychopathological and personality characteristics contribute to the development and maintenance of obesity and dysfunctional eating behaviors, showing a bidirectional relationship. The purpose of this study was to understand the role of psychopathological factors and personality dimensions on dysfunctional eating behaviors in a sample of individuals with obesity. Methods The study was conducted with 96 individuals with obesity (31 males and 65 females) who underwent psychological assessment. The instruments administered included the Cognitive Behavioral Assessment 2.0 - Primary Scales, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2, and the Eating Disorder Inventory. Relationships between dysfunctional eating behaviors and personality and psychopathological factors were explored through mediation analysis. Results and discussion Our results showed that difficulties related to impulse control and behavior, along with negative and dysphoric emotions, may be associated with difficulties in eating behavior. Mediation analysis showed that the combination of depressive and obsessive-compulsive symptomatology may exacerbate or contribute to the occurrence of eating disorders. These psychopathological aspects should be taken into account during the assessment of patients who decide to undergo bariatric surgery and should be targets of specific psychological interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margherita Attanasio
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Antonio Giuliani
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
- Department of Surgery, San Salvatore Hospital, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Lucia Romano
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
- Department of Surgery, San Salvatore Hospital, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Cristina Laidò
- Istituto Romano di psicoterapia e psicodinamica integrata, Rome, Italy
| | - Gilda Di Poggiovalle
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Ilenia Le Donne
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Valentina Di Fonzo
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Sergio Tiberti
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Marco Valenti
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Monica Mazza
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
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Labonté K, Nielsen DE. Measuring food-related inhibition with go/no-go tasks: Critical considerations for experimental design. Appetite 2023; 185:106497. [PMID: 36893916 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2023.106497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
The use of go/no-go tasks to assess inhibitory control over food stimuli is becoming increasingly popular. However, the wide variability in the design of these tasks makes it difficult to fully leverage their results. The goal of this commentary was to provide researchers with crucial aspects to consider when designing food-related go/no-go experiments. We examined 76 studies that used food-themed go/no-go tasks and extracted characteristics related to participant population, methodology, and analysis. Based on our observations of common issues that can influence study conclusions, we stress the importance for researchers to design an appropriate control condition and match stimuli between experimental conditions in terms of emotional and physical properties. We also emphasize that stimuli should be tailored to the participants under study, whether at the individual or group level. To ensure that the task truly measures inhibitory abilities, researchers should promote the establishment of a prepotent response pattern by presenting more go than no-go trials and by using short trials. Researchers should also pre-specify the criteria used to identify potentially invalid data. While go/no-go tasks represent valuable tools for studying food cognition, researchers should choose task parameters carefully and justify their methodological and analytical decisions in order to ensure the validity of results and promote best practices in food-related inhibition research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Labonté
- School of Human Nutrition, McGill University, Macdonald-Stewart Building, 21111 Lakeshore Road, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, H9X 3V9, Canada.
| | - Daiva E Nielsen
- School of Human Nutrition, McGill University, Macdonald-Stewart Building, 21111 Lakeshore Road, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, H9X 3V9, Canada.
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7
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Ballestero-Arnau M, Rodríguez-Herreros B, Nuño-Bermúdez N, Cunillera T. Sporadic fasting reduces attentional control without altering overall executive function in a binary classification task. Physiol Behav 2023; 260:114065. [PMID: 36549561 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.114065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Diets with intermittent fasting are an efficient method for producing clinically significant weight loss and preventing the development of obesity. However, individuals following intermittent fasting must face the difficulty of avoiding eating when experiencing the feeling of hunger. In this study, we investigated which aspects of executive function were affected following a prolonged period of food deprivation in participants that have never previously undergone intermittent fasting. Twenty-six participants with normal weight performed two binary classification tasks (Stop Signal (SST) and Go/NoGo) after either a 12 h fasting or a nonfasting period in separate sessions. We measured their performance in several underlying decision-making processes, such as response inhibition and attentional control. In line with previous studies, our results revealed that decision-making processes to resolve the classification task were unaffected by fasting. Response inhibition, as indexed by the stop signal reaction time in the SST, remained as well unaltered after food deprivation. Rather, we observed a higher error rate in NoGo trials following a fasting period, which was associated with disrupted attentional control. Overall, these results indicate that when a hunger feeling reaches consciousness, it induces deficits over certain aspects of attentional control. Our findings hint at the importance of structured behavioral change strategies to cope with fasting-induced difficulties in attentional control, to help achieve weight management goals through successful self-monitoring of food intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Ballestero-Arnau
- Department of Cognition, Development and Educational Psychology. Faculty of Psychology, University of Barcelona; Pg. Vall d'Hebron, 171; 08035, Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Neurosciences (UBNeuro), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - B Rodríguez-Herreros
- Service des Troubles du Spectre de l'Autisme et apparentés, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - N Nuño-Bermúdez
- Department of Cognition, Development and Educational Psychology. Faculty of Psychology, University of Barcelona; Pg. Vall d'Hebron, 171; 08035, Barcelona, Spain
| | - T Cunillera
- Department of Cognition, Development and Educational Psychology. Faculty of Psychology, University of Barcelona; Pg. Vall d'Hebron, 171; 08035, Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Neurosciences (UBNeuro), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
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8
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Coricelli C, Rumiati RI, Rioux C. Implicit and explicit safety evaluation of foods: The importance of food processing. Appetite 2022; 175:106062. [PMID: 35500724 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2022.106062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Identifying beneficial foods in the environment, while avoiding ingesting something toxic, is a crucial task humans face on a daily basis. Here we directly examined adults' implicit and explicit safety evaluations of the same foods presented with different degrees of processing, ranging from unprocessed (raw) to processed (cut or cooked). Moreover, we investigated whether individual characteristics (e.g., Body Mass Index, food neophobia and hunger) modulated their evaluations. We hypothesized that adults would associate the processed form of a food with safety more than its unprocessed form since processing techniques, which are ubiquitously applied in different cultures, often reduce the toxicity of foods, and signal previous human intervention and intended consumption. Adults (N = 109, 43 females) performed an implicit Go/No-Go association task (GNAT) online, assessing the association between safety attributes and food images differing on their degree of processing, both unfamiliar and familiar foods were used. Then each food was explicitly evaluated. Results revealed that individual self-reported characteristics affected both implicit and explicit evaluations. Individuals with excess weight and obesity had a strong and positive implicit association between processed foods and safety attributes, but explicitly rated cooked foods as the least safe overall, this latter result was found in highly neophobic individuals as well. Yet, at the explicit level, when looking at unfamiliar foods only, processed foods were rated safer than unprocessed foods by all participants. Our results are the first evidence that directly highlights the relevance of the degree of processing in food safety evaluation and suggest that thinking of the important tasks humans face regarding food selection enriches our understanding of food behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Coricelli
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), via Bonomea, 265 - 34136, Trieste, Italy; Western University, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON, N6A 3K7, Canada.
| | - R I Rumiati
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), via Bonomea, 265 - 34136, Trieste, Italy.
| | - C Rioux
- Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Lentzeallee, 94, 14195, Berlin, Germany.
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Wang J, Wang H, Yu H, Wang J, Guo X, Tong S, Bao Y, Hong X. Neural mechanisms of inhibitory control deficits in obesity revealed by P3 but not N2 event-related potential component. Appetite 2022; 171:105908. [DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2021.105908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Davidson TL, Ramirez E, Kwarteng EA, Djan KG, Faulkner LM, Parker MN, Yang SB, Zenno A, Kelly NR, Shank LM, Tanofsky-Kraff M, Snelling A, Belson SI, Hyde A, Chen KY, Yanovski JA. Retrieval-induced forgetting in children and adolescents with and without obesity. Int J Obes (Lond) 2022; 46:851-858. [PMID: 35042933 PMCID: PMC8967761 DOI: 10.1038/s41366-021-01036-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Previous research indicates that youth with obesity exhibit deficits in executive functioning (EF), which often take the form of impaired response inhibition. One aspect of EF not previously studied in obesity is the adaptive process known as retrieval-induced forgetting (RIF), the suppression/inhibition of intrusive or non-target items by the retrieval of specific items from memory. The present study investigated if child or adolescent obesity disrupts the ability to inhibit retrieval of intrusive memories. SUBJECTS/METHODS We compared the manifestation of RIF in children (ages 8-12) and adolescents (ages 13-18) as a function of their weight status and sex. We also evaluated the effects of these variables on simple recall of items from episodic memory under conditions where competition from intrusive items was reduced. RESULTS Children with obesity did not demonstrate significant RIF, whereas RIF was exhibited by preteens without obesity and by teenage participants with- and without obesity (Weight Status × Age Group interaction p = 0.028). This pattern of results did not differ as a function of sex for either age group. No differences in episodic memory were found. Additional analyses using Age as continuous covariate (and not as a nominal group) comparing participants who exhibited RIF with those who did not, found that the no RIF group consumed fast-food meals more frequently (p = 0.024) and had higher percentages of total body adiposity and android fat compared to the RIF group (p's < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The findings expand what is known about the effects of childhood obesity on cognitive functioning, identify impaired RIF with specific behavioral and dietary factors and increased adiposity, and suggest the possibility that impairments in the ability to inhibit intrusive memories of food and eating may contribute to poor early-life weight control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terry L Davidson
- Department of Neuroscience, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20016, USA.
- Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20016, USA.
| | - Eliana Ramirez
- Section on Growth and Obesity, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Esther A Kwarteng
- Section on Growth and Obesity, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Kweku G Djan
- Section on Growth and Obesity, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Loie M Faulkner
- Section on Growth and Obesity, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Megan N Parker
- Section on Growth and Obesity, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Shanna B Yang
- Nutrition Department, Clinical Research Center, NIH, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Anna Zenno
- Section on Growth and Obesity, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Nichole R Kelly
- Department of Counseling Psychology and Human Services, Prevention Science Institute, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403-5207, USA
| | - Lisa M Shank
- Section on Growth and Obesity, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
- Department of Medicine, Military Cardiovascular Outcomes Research (MiCOR), USU, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
- Metis Foundation, 300 Convent St #1330, San Antonio, TX, 78205, USA
| | - Marian Tanofsky-Kraff
- Section on Growth and Obesity, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
- Department of Medicine, Military Cardiovascular Outcomes Research (MiCOR), USU, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Anastasia Snelling
- Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20016, USA
- Department of Health Studies, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20016, USA
| | - Sarah Irvine Belson
- Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20016, USA
- School of Education, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20016, USA
| | - Alexia Hyde
- Department of Neuroscience, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20016, USA
| | - Kong Y Chen
- Energy Metabolism Section, Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Digestive Diseases, Diabetes, and Kidney Disorders, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Jack A Yanovski
- Section on Growth and Obesity, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
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11
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Allen WD, Rodeback RE, Carbine KA, Hedges-Muncy AM, LeCheminant JD, Steffen PR, Larson MJ. The relationship between acute stress and neurophysiological and behavioral measures of food-related inhibitory control: An event-related potential (ERP) study. Appetite 2021; 170:105862. [PMID: 34906572 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2021.105862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Stress influences many health-related behaviors including diet and nutrition intake, often resulting in increased calorie intake, fewer healthy eating behaviors, and poorer nutrition. Food intake is modulated by inhibitory control and has important implications for our physical, mental, and emotional health. Yet, little is known about the relationship between stress and food-related inhibitory control. We tested the influence of a short-term experimental stressor on behavioral and event-related potential (ERP; N2 and P3 components) measures of food-related inhibitory control. Ninety-seven healthy participants were randomly assigned to complete the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) (n = 48, 27 females [52.9%]) or a neutral control condition (n = 49, 35 females [70%]) immediately followed by food-specific go/no-go and neutral go/no-go tasks while electroencephalogram (EEG) data were recorded. Stress levels were successfully manipulated, with heightened self-report and physiological measures (heart rate and systolic blood pressure) of the stress response in individuals who completed the TSST compared to control. As expected, the high calorie food-specific go/no-go task elicited larger N2 amplitude than the neutral task. N2 component amplitude was also significantly larger following the TSST relative to the control task. There were no significant between-group or task differences for P3 amplitude or behavioral measures. Findings suggest heightened N2 amplitude following psychological stress that is not specific to food or inhibition processes and may reflect heightened arousal following stress. Future research in individuals with overweight/obesity or experiencing chronic stress will further clarify the role of stress in food-related inhibitory control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Whitney D Allen
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
| | - Rebekah E Rodeback
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
| | - Kaylie A Carbine
- Department of Psychology, California State University Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA, 90747, USA
| | | | - James D LeCheminant
- Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Science, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
| | - Patrick R Steffen
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
| | - Michael J Larson
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA; Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA.
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Enhancing dieters' perseverance in adversity: How counterfactual thinking increases use of digital health tracking tools. Appetite 2021; 164:105261. [PMID: 33894301 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2021.105261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2020] [Revised: 04/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Dieting is a cognitively taxing task that does not always advance well-being. A dieting lapse may result in overconsumption that undermines long-term health goals. This research explores how a process known as counterfactual thinking (CFT), reliving an event to figure out where things went wrong, may help consumers faced with a temptation to indulge. Consumers who engage in upward CFT generate an alternative set of steps or actions that could have changed the outcome in a situation. We investigate if and how CFT may be used strategically to help consumers stick to their dieting goal and advance their own well-being. METHODS A 2 (CFT vs. control) x 2 (dieter vs. non-dieter) between-subjects factorial design was used to evaluate participant interest in a digital health tracking tool after viewing an advertisement (Study 1). Study 2 was conducted as a follow-up to measure their use of the digital tracking tool, intentions to continue to use, and calories consumed (as tracked in the system) after a two-week period using the digital tracking tool advertised in Study 1. RESULTS We find that engaging in upward CFT increases a dieter's intentions to track their food, a practice emerging as a strategy to help maintain goal consistency. Among dieters, perceived feasibility mediated the impact of CFT on both ad evaluations (Study 1) as well as intentions to continue to use the digital health tracking tool (Study 2). In the follow-up study we also find that dieters in the CFT condition used more of the online features offered and that all consumers in the CFT condition ate marginally fewer calories across two weeks of tracking using the digital health tool. DISCUSSION Encouraging consumers to generate upward counterfactual thoughts in the face of a dieting lapse increases their propensity to use an online tracking tool and reduces calories consumed. In the age of digital tracking tools, personalized prompts could be set to encourage CFT to help get a consumer back on track to pursue their healthy eating goals.
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