FORSTER_Appetite_APR_2020_author_copy.pdf (257.25 kB)
A high perceptual load task reduces thoughts about chocolate, even while hungry
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-07, 06:52 authored by Jenny Morris, Man Yung Keith Ngai, Martin YeomansMartin Yeomans, Sophie ForsterSophie ForsterIntrusive thoughts about food can trigger cravings and result in unhealthy eating behaviour. Here we tested whether Load Theory of attention can be applied to the eating behaviour literature and reduce intrusive appetitive-related thoughts. Load Theory predicts that high levels of perceptual load in a task exhaust attentional capacity and so reduces interference from a range of stimuli, including intrusive thoughts. Therefore, this study aimed to test whether perceptual load reduced appetitive-related intrusive thoughts about chocolate. Sixty female participants were first given a chocolate bar to interact with for two minutes, before rating their levels of hunger, craving and liking for chocolate. They were then asked to avoid thinking about chocolate and instead focus attention on a visual search task. Perceptual load was manipulated within-subjects by varying the search set size. Appetitive-related thoughts were measured using both self-caught and probe-caught measures, allowing us to index load effects at varying levels of meta-awareness. Across subjects, the level of appetitive-related thoughts seen in the high load condition was significantly reduced, to less than half the level seen in the low load condition, on both probe and self-caught measures. Furthermore, self-reported hunger, craving and liking for the chocolate were positively correlated with appetitive-related thoughts under low load, but high perceptual load eliminated these state individual differences. Therefore, engaging in perceptually demanding tasks may be a worthwhile strategy for those wanting to disrupt the cycle of craving at the earliest stage.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Accepted version
Journal
AppetiteISSN
0195-6663Publisher
ElsevierExternal DOI
Volume
151Article number
a104694Department affiliated with
- Psychology Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2020-04-27First Open Access (FOA) Date
2021-04-06First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2020-04-24Usage metrics
Categories
No categories selectedKeywords
Licence
Exports
RefWorks
BibTeX
Ref. manager
Endnote
DataCite
NLM
DC