The effect of food-related stimuli on inhibition in high vs. low restrained eaters. (1st December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ganor-Moscovitz, Nitzan; Weinbach, Noam; Canetti, Laura; Kalanthroff, Eyal
• Is Part Of: Appetite. Volume 131(2018)
• Page Start: 53
• Page End: 58
• Publication Date: 2018-12-01
• Subjects: Restrained eaters -- Response inhibition -- Stop-signal -- Executive control; Food habits -- Periodicals; Appetite -- Periodicals; Appetite disorders -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 306.4613
• DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2018.08.037
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0195-6663

Abstract

Abstract: Restrained eaters constantly limit their eating behavior to avoid gaining weight. Previous research suggests that fundamental deficits in response inhibition might play a role in the development of disinhibited eating among restrained eaters. The current study focuses on the impact of food vs. non-food stimuli on response inhibition in high vs. low restrained eaters. Seventy-five females (38 high and 37 low restrained eaters) completed a novel food stop-signal task in which they were required to discriminate between food and non-food images while inhibiting their response when a stop-signal appeared. The ability to inhibit a response was assessed separately for food and non-food trials, which were used to assess specific inhibition to food and general inhibitory abilities, respectively. Overall, high restrained eaters exhibited poorer response inhibition to non-food stimuli compared to low restrained eaters. Most importantly, high restrained eaters were better able to inhibit a response following presentation of food compared to non-food stimuli. In contrast, low restrained eaters were better at inhibiting a response following non-food compared to food stimuli. We suggest that this pattern is due to fast and strong activation of the response inhibition system in high restrained eaters when facing food stimuli — an activation which might later lead to a paradoxical breakdown of control over eating behavior.