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Maydych V, Pöschel H, Kübler S, Schubert T. The impact of food stimuli and fasting on cognitive control in task switching. PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2024; 88:921-935. [PMID: 37855942 DOI: 10.1007/s00426-023-01884-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Previous research demonstrated motivation-control interactions in task switching. However, motivational effects on switch costs have been mostly examined using monetary rewards. Here, we investigated whether stimulus material linked to food and fasting affect control processes in task switching. We predicted that switching to the task comprising food stimuli would be facilitated, which should result in lower switch costs for this task, and that these effects would be stronger with higher motivational salience of the food stimuli, i.e. in hungry individuals and/or individuals with restrictive eating. Participants switched between categorising food items as sweet or savoury and digits as odd or even in two task-switching paradigms: an alternating runs and a voluntary task switching. Hunger was induced by 14 h fasting in the experimental compared to the control group. Results showed lower switch costs for the motivational-affective food task in both task-switching paradigms and in both groups. Switch costs for the neutral digit task were significantly higher in the fasting group compared to the control group in alternating runs task switching only. Individual differences in restrictive eating were related negatively but not significantly to the size of the switch costs. All in all, the results demonstrate an impact of motivational-affective stimuli on cognitive control in task switching and suggest a potential modulatory role of motivational states, though the findings need to be replicated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktoria Maydych
- Institute for Psychology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Emil-Abderhalden-Str. 26-27, 06108, Halle (Saale), Germany.
| | - Hanna Pöschel
- Institute for Psychology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Emil-Abderhalden-Str. 26-27, 06108, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Sebastian Kübler
- Institute for Psychology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Emil-Abderhalden-Str. 26-27, 06108, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt-University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Torsten Schubert
- Institute for Psychology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Emil-Abderhalden-Str. 26-27, 06108, Halle (Saale), Germany
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2
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Puttevils L, De Bruecker M, Allaert J, Sanchez-Lopez A, De Schryver N, Vervaet M, Baeken C, Vanderhasselt MA. Attentional bias to food during free and instructed viewing in anorexia nervosa: An eye tracking study. J Psychiatr Res 2023; 164:468-476. [PMID: 37437319 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.06.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Previous research has shown that patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) show an attentional bias to food. However, due to different conceptualizations of attentional bias and the use of various paradigms, results are inconclusive and more precise insights into the exact nature of this attentional bias are needed. Therefore, an eye-tracking paradigm with food (low and high caloric) and non-food (objects) pictures was used to investigate biases in AN patients (n = 25) compared to healthy controls (n = 22). Several indices of visual attention were examined, both during free (initial orientation, fixation frequency, fixation time) and explicitly instructed (engagement, disengagement) viewing. Our results during the free viewing phase indicated that AN patients (as compared to healthy matched controls) looked less frequently and spent less time fixating on food stimuli, compared to the comparison group. No differences between both groups (n = 47) in initial orientation could be observed. Interestingly, during the instructed viewing phase, no differences between the patient and the comparison group were observed in engagement or disengagement to food stimuli. These results suggest an (initial) attentional avoidance of food in AN patients when closely investigating spontaneous attentional processes, while this could not be observed during gaze behaviour when receiving clear instructions. Hence, future research should look into how attentional bias during spontaneous gaze patterns could serve as a potential marker of AN, and how targeting this bias could be applied in treatment interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Puttevils
- Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Belgium; Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Marie De Bruecker
- Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Belgium; Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jens Allaert
- Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Belgium; Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Experimental-Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Belgium
| | | | - Nele De Schryver
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Eating Disorders, Ghent University Hospital, K12F, C. Heymanslaan 10, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Chris Baeken
- Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Belgium; Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital (UZ Brussel), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Marie-Anne Vanderhasselt
- Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Belgium; Ghent Experimental Psychiatry (GHEP) Lab, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Experimental-Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Belgium
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3
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Cassidy O, Tanofsky-Kraff M, Waters AJ, Shank LM, Pine A, Quattlebaum M, DeLeon PH, Bragg M, Sbrocco T. The impact of racially-targeted food marketing and attentional biases on consumption in Black adolescent females with and without obesity: Pilot data from the Black Adolescent & Entertainment (BAE) study. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0279871. [PMID: 36662840 PMCID: PMC9858861 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Unhealthy food advertisements ("advertisements" hereafter referred to as "ads") are linked to poor diet and obesity, and food companies disproportionally target Black youth. Little is known about the mechanisms whereby food ads influence diet. One possibility may be racially-targeted ads that appeal to Black youth. Those with food-related attentional biases may be especially vulnerable. The objective of this project was to assess the feasibility and initial effects of a pilot study testing the influence of racially-targeted food ads and food-related attentional biases on eating behaviors among a sample of Black adolescent females. Feasibility of recruitment, retention, and procedures were examined. Participants (N = 41, 12-17y) were randomized to view a television episode clip of the Big Bang Theory embedded with either four 30-second racially-targeted food ads or neutral ads. A computer dot probe task assessed food-related attentional biases. The primary outcome was caloric consumption from a laboratory test meal. Interactions based on weight and ethnic identity were also examined. Analyses of variance and regressions were used to assess main and interaction effects. Exposure to racially-targeted food ads (versus neutral ads) did not affect energy consumption (p > .99). Although not statistically significant, adolescents with obesity consumed nearly 240 kcal more than non-overweight adolescents (p = 0.10). There were no significant preliminary effects related to food-related attentional biases or ethnic identity (ps = 0.22-0.79). Despite a non-significant interaction, these data provide preliminary support that adolescents with obesity may be particularly vulnerable to racially-targeted food ads. An adequately powered trial is necessary to further elucidate the associations among racially-targeted food ads among Black adolescent girls with obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omni Cassidy
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States of America
- Department of Population Health, NYU Langone Health/Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Marian Tanofsky-Kraff
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States of America
| | - Andrew J. Waters
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States of America
| | - Lisa M. Shank
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States of America
| | - Abigail Pine
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States of America
| | - Mary Quattlebaum
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States of America
| | - Patrick H. DeLeon
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States of America
- Daniel K. Inouyé Graduate School of Nursing, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Marie Bragg
- Department of Population Health, NYU Langone Health/Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
- College of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Tracy Sbrocco
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States of America
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Dondzilo L, Mills C, Pollitt S, MacLeod C. Enhanced capacity to switch but not to maintain: The basis of attentional bias to high calorie foods in restrained eaters. Appetite 2022; 172:105969. [PMID: 35150792 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2022.105969] [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: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
It has been argued that high restrained eaters (i.e., people who fluctuate between restrictive food intake and overeating) are characterised by a heightened attentional bias to high calorie foods. However, the validity of this hypothesis has not yet been convincingly established. The current study sought to empirically evaluate this hypothesis using two directional measures of attentional bias: the well-established dot probe bias assessment task and the more novel Chase the Food bias assessment task. The latter attentional assessment approach has the capacity to differentiate between attentional switching and attentional maintenance within a complex and dynamic food environment. Participants (61 high restrained eaters and 38 low restrained eaters) completed the dot probe task and the Chase the Food task. Findings obtained on the dot probe task did not reveal a group difference in terms of biased attentional responding towards high calorie vs. low calorie food. Conversely, the two groups were found to differ on one of the measures obtained on the Chase the Food task. Specifically, high restrained eaters, as compared to low restrained eaters, demonstrated speeded attentional switching to high calorie foods, rather than a greater ability to maintain attention on high calorie foods when required to do so. These novel findings imply that high restrained eaters are potentially characterised by facilitated attentional switching towards high calorie foods. Implications are discussed including the possibility of targeting biased attentional switching using training variants of the Chase the Food task in interventions designed to reduce maladaptive eating behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Dondzilo
- Elizabeth Rutherford Memorial Centre for the Advancement of Research on Emotion, School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Australia.
| | - Caitlin Mills
- Elizabeth Rutherford Memorial Centre for the Advancement of Research on Emotion, School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Australia
| | - Shannon Pollitt
- Elizabeth Rutherford Memorial Centre for the Advancement of Research on Emotion, School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Australia
| | - Colin MacLeod
- Elizabeth Rutherford Memorial Centre for the Advancement of Research on Emotion, School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Australia
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5
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Soleymani A, Mazidi M, Neimeijer R, de Jong PJ. Eating disorder-specific rumination moderates the association between attentional bias to high-calorie foods and eating disorder symptoms: Evidence from a reliable free-viewing eye-tracking task. Appetite 2022; 171:105934. [PMID: 35051543 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2022.105934] [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: 05/02/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive theories of eating disorders implicate Attentional Bias (AB) towards food-related information in the development and maintenance of eating disorders. Empirical evidence for this proposal, however, has been inconsistent, and the measures used to examine AB to food-related stimuli typically showed poor reliability. The aim of the current study was twofold. Firstly, we aimed to examine the psychometric properties of a newly devised eye-tracking task for the assessment of AB in the context of eating disorders. Secondly, we examined the role of Eating Disorder-specific (ED-specific) rumination as a potential moderator of the association between attentional bias to food images and eating disorder symptoms. One hundred and three female students were recruited and completed an eye-tracking task comprising 21 matrices that each contained 8 low-calorie and 8 high-calorie food images. Each matrix was presented for 6 s. First fixation location, first fixation latency, and total dwell time were assessed for low and high-calorie food images and the dwell-time based AB measure showed good reliability based on Cronbach's alpha, McDonald's Omega, and split-half method. In addition, the results revealed that the ED-specific rumination plays the hypothesized moderating role. Specifically, while participants with high levels of ED-specific rumination exhibited a positive association between AB to high-calorie foods and eating disorder symptoms, this association was not present among participants with lower levels of ED-specific rumination. The employed free-viewing task seems a reliable measure of AB to food-related stimuli, and the moderation analysis emphasizes the critical role of ED-specific rumination for eating disorder symptoms. Implications, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Soleymani
- Erasmus-Leiden-Delft Center of Education and Leaning, TU Delft, Delft, the Netherlands.
| | - Mahdi Mazidi
- Centre for the Advancement of Research on Emotion, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Renate Neimeijer
- Department of Clinical Psychology & Experimental Psychopathology, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Peter J de Jong
- Department of Clinical Psychology & Experimental Psychopathology, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
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6
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Ackermans MA, Jonker NC, Bennik EC, de Jong PJ. Hunger increases negative and decreases positive emotions in women with a healthy weight. Appetite 2021; 168:105746. [PMID: 34637770 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2021.105746] [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: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The term 'hangry' is colloquially used to describe being "bad tempered or irritable as a result of hunger," but remarkably few studies have examined the effect of hunger on emotions. Yet, women attempting to restrict their food intake may be at risk of becoming entangled in a vicious cycle of hunger and negative emotions. That is, hunger may lead to negative emotions, which can lead to overeating and overeating can, in turn, provoke subsequent restriction leading to more hunger. Therefore the aim of this study was to examine the effect of hunger on positive and negative emotions in women with a healthy BMI, and the role of subclinical eating disorder symptoms in this effect. We randomly assigned women to a hunger condition (fasting for 14 h, n = 53) or satiated condition (eat breakfast before the study, n = 55), and they completed the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire and the Profile of Mood States in the lab. Hungry women reported overall higher negative emotions (higher tension, anger, fatigue, and confusion) and lower positive emotions (lower vigour and marginally lower esteem-related affect) than satiated women. Moreover, for satiated but not for hungry women, higher eating disorder symptoms were associated with lower esteem-related affect. These findings show that food restriction leads to negative emotions, and practitioners and individuals should be aware of these implications of food restriction on mental health. Second, clinicians and individuals should be wary of relatively low esteem-related affect when satiated in individuals with eating disorder symptoms, as it could serve as a maintaining factor in eating pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Ackermans
- University of Groningen, Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, the Netherlands
| | - N C Jonker
- University of Groningen, Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, the Netherlands.
| | - E C Bennik
- University of Groningen, Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, the Netherlands
| | - P J de Jong
- University of Groningen, Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, the Netherlands
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7
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Froehlich E, Samaan L, Matsuzaki R, Park SQ. Humor and Hunger Affect the Response Toward Food Cues. Front Psychol 2021; 12:680508. [PMID: 34603121 PMCID: PMC8481376 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.680508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The omnipresence of food cues in everyday life has been linked to troubled eating behavior and rising rates of obesity. While extended research has been conducted on the effects of negative emotions and stress on food consumption, very little is known about how positive emotions affect eating and particularly attention toward food cues. In the present study, we investigated whether humor impacts attentional bias toward food and whether it will affect preferences for healthy and unhealthy food items, depending on the hunger state. To do so, a group of randomly assigned participants watched funny video clips (humor group, N = 46) or neutral ones (control group, N = 49). Afterwards, they performed a modified Posner cueing task with low or high caloric food images serving as cues. We found a significant group × hunger interaction. Compared to the control group, the humor group responded more slowly to food cues when hungry, whereas the opposite was true when participants were satiated. Additionally, our results suggest that hunger possibly directs attention away from healthy food cues and toward unhealthy ones. No group differences were found with respect to food preferences and engagement and disengagement of attention. We discuss the potential of humor in counteracting aversive consequences of hunger on attention allocation toward food. We propose an underlying mechanism involving a combined reduction in cortisol levels and a decrease in activation of the reward system. However, given the novelty of the findings, further research is warranted, both to replicate the results as well as to investigate the suggested underlying processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Froehlich
- Decision Neuroscience and Nutrition, German Institute of Human Nutrition (DIfE), Nuthetal, Germany
| | - Larissa Samaan
- Decision Neuroscience and Nutrition, German Institute of Human Nutrition (DIfE), Nuthetal, Germany.,Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Rie Matsuzaki
- Decision Neuroscience and Nutrition, German Institute of Human Nutrition (DIfE), Nuthetal, Germany
| | - Soyoung Q Park
- Decision Neuroscience and Nutrition, German Institute of Human Nutrition (DIfE), Nuthetal, Germany.,Neuroscience Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Neuroscience Research Center, Berlin, Germany.,Deutsches Zentrum Für Diabetes, Neuherberg, Germany
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8
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Zajac I, Herreen D, Hunkin H, James-Martin G, Doyen M, Kakoschke N, Brindal E. Modified Fasting Compared to True Fasting Improves Blood Glucose Levels and Subjective Experiences of Hunger, Food Cravings and Mental Fatigue, But Not Cognitive Function: Results of an Acute Randomised Cross-Over Trial. Nutrients 2020; 13:E65. [PMID: 33379191 PMCID: PMC7824352 DOI: 10.3390/nu13010065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent dietary trends have prompted growing support for a variety of fasting paradigms involving extreme restriction or nil-caloric intake on fasting days. Some studies indicate that fasting may negatively influence factors including cognitive function through inducing fatigue, which may prove problematic in the context of completing a range of cognitively demanding activities required by daily obligations such as work. This randomised within-subjects cross-over trial explored the effects of true fasting (i.e., nil-caloric intake) versus modified fasting, the latter of which involved two sub-conditions: (1) extended distribution (three small meals distributed across the day; 522 kcal total); and (2) bulking (two meals eaten early in the day; 512 kcal total) over a period of 7.5 h on a single day with a 7-day washout period between conditions. Participants were n = 17 females (Body Mass Index (BMI) Mean (M) = 25.80, Standard Deviation (SD) = 2.30) aged 21-49 years. Outcomes included cognitive function, subjective mental fatigue, satiety, food cravings and blood glucose. Results showed that there were no differences in cognitive test performance between conditions;however, both modified fasting sub-conditions had improved blood glucose levels, cravings, hunger and fullness compared to true fasting. Moreover, subjective mental fatigue was significantly reduced in the modified fasting conditions relative to true fasting. Overall, results indicated that the subjective experience of true fasting and modified fasting is different, but that cognition does not appear to be impaired.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian Zajac
- Nutrition & Health, Health & Biosecurity, CSIRO, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (D.H.); (H.H.); (G.J.-M.); (M.D.); (N.K.); (E.B.)
| | - Danielle Herreen
- Nutrition & Health, Health & Biosecurity, CSIRO, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (D.H.); (H.H.); (G.J.-M.); (M.D.); (N.K.); (E.B.)
- School of Psychology, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Hugh Hunkin
- Nutrition & Health, Health & Biosecurity, CSIRO, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (D.H.); (H.H.); (G.J.-M.); (M.D.); (N.K.); (E.B.)
- School of Psychology, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Genevieve James-Martin
- Nutrition & Health, Health & Biosecurity, CSIRO, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (D.H.); (H.H.); (G.J.-M.); (M.D.); (N.K.); (E.B.)
| | - Mathilde Doyen
- Nutrition & Health, Health & Biosecurity, CSIRO, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (D.H.); (H.H.); (G.J.-M.); (M.D.); (N.K.); (E.B.)
- Agrocampus Ouest, 65 Rue de Saint-Brieuc, 35000 Rennes, France
| | - Naomi Kakoschke
- Nutrition & Health, Health & Biosecurity, CSIRO, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (D.H.); (H.H.); (G.J.-M.); (M.D.); (N.K.); (E.B.)
| | - Emily Brindal
- Nutrition & Health, Health & Biosecurity, CSIRO, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (D.H.); (H.H.); (G.J.-M.); (M.D.); (N.K.); (E.B.)
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Zitron-Emanuel N, Ganel T. Does food deprivation affect perceived size? Appetite 2020; 155:104829. [PMID: 32822806 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2020.104829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2020] [Revised: 07/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/09/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to food-related stimuli could lead to the triggering of a set of biological, emotional and cognitive responses. Such responses can be pronounced following food deprivation. Indeed, previous research showed that even a moderate period of food deprivation is sufficient to increase perceptual precision to detect changes along food size and to change the processing style of food-related stimuli. It is unclear, however, whether food deprivation also leads to systematic biases along the perception of food size. Here, we used two classic psychophysical methods, the method of constant stimuli and the method of adjustment, adapted to the field of food perception, to study the effect of food deprivation on average perceived food size. In two experiments, food deprived and non-deprived participants were asked to compare a series of food and non-food visual stimuli along their size. The results were inconsistent and depended upon the method used. When found, small bias effects resulted in food stimuli perceived as bigger following food deprivation. The results show that unlike the reliable effects motivational factors have on perceptual precision and on perceptual processing style, they have an inconsistent influence on average perceived food size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noa Zitron-Emanuel
- Department of Psychology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, 8410501, Israel
| | - Tzvi Ganel
- Department of Psychology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, 8410501, Israel.
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10
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Jonker NC, Glashouwer KA, Ostafin BD, de Jong PJ. Visual attention to food cues and the course of anorexia nervosa. Behav Res Ther 2020; 132:103649. [PMID: 32603953 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2020.103649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Revised: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Previously, adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN) showed reduced attentional engagement with food cues compared to adolescents without eating disorder (Jonker, Glashouwer, Hoekzema, Ostafin, & De Jong, 2019). This study tested whether (i) improvement in eating disorder symptoms and BMI are related to an increase in attentional engagement with food, and whether (ii) relatively low attentional engagement is related to persistent AN symptomatology, in the same sample of adolescents with AN (N = 69) from the study of Jonker et al. (2019). Eating disorder symptoms, BMI, and attention for food cues were measured during baseline and at one year follow-up. Adolescents with AN showed a substantial improvement in symptoms and BMI. However, their low attentional engagement with food cues remained unchanged. Change in attentional engagement with food was not related to change in symptoms, nor was low baseline attentional engagement with food predictive of symptom persistence. These findings indicate that improvement in AN symptoms does not seem to require an increase in attentional engagement with food.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nienke C Jonker
- University of Groningen, Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, the Netherlands.
| | - Klaske A Glashouwer
- University of Groningen, Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, the Netherlands; Accare Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Eating Disorders, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Brian D Ostafin
- University of Groningen, Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, the Netherlands
| | - Peter J de Jong
- University of Groningen, Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, the Netherlands
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