Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2026
12:09
Studying Food Reward and Motivation in Humans
Published on: March 19, 2014
Playing a computer game during lunch affects fullness, memory for lunch, and later snack intake
Rose E Oldham-Cooper1, Charlotte A Hardman, Charlotte E Nicoll
1Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|December 15, 2010
Summary
Distraction during meals impairs memory for food consumed, leading to increased later food intake and potentially contributing to obesity. This highlights the impact of sedentary screen time on eating behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Science
- Nutritional Science
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Distracting stimuli during eating can increase meal size, potentially contributing to overeating and obesity.
- The impact of within-meal distraction on subsequent food intake remains less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if distraction during a meal inhibits memory encoding of that meal.
- To determine if impaired meal memory leads to increased food intake later.
Main Methods:
- A between-subjects design with 44 participants assessed the effects of playing solitaire during a fixed lunch.
- Memory for lunch and subsequent food intake were measured 30 minutes later.
- A control group ate lunch without distraction.
Main Results:
- Distracted participants reported feeling less full after lunch.
- Distracted individuals consumed significantly more food (52.1g vs 27.1g) in a subsequent taste test (P=0.017).
- Memory accuracy for the sequence of lunch items was lower in the distracted group.
Conclusions:
- Distraction during a meal influences subsequent eating behavior.
- Impaired memory for a meal can lead to increased consumption.
- Findings may explain the link between sedentary screen time and overweight.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Regulation of Food Intake
Short-term regulation of food intake primarily involves neural signals from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, blood nutrient levels, and GI tract hormones. Communication between the gut and brain via vagal nerve fibers plays a significant role in evaluating the contents of the gut. Clinical studies have shown that protein ingestion produces a more prolonged response in these nerve fibers compared to an equivalent amount of glucose. Additionally, the activation of stretch receptors caused by GI...
01:25Self-Regulation
Self-regulation, also known as self-control, encompasses a range of cognitive and behavioral processes that allow individuals to adjust their internal states and outward actions to align with socially acceptable norms and long-term goals. It plays a fundamental role in adaptive functioning, from resisting impulsive behaviors to persisting through challenging tasks. While its benefits are widely recognized, self-regulation is not limitless. Muraven and Baumeister's theory posits that...
01:08Timing and Consequences on Behavior
In operant conditioning, the timing of reinforcement is crucial. For animals like rats and cats, immediate reinforcement (within a few seconds) is much more effective than delayed reinforcement. For example, a food reward for a rat needs to follow within 30 seconds of pressing a bar to be effective.
Humans, however, can respond to delayed reinforcers. We often make decisions between immediate small rewards and delayed larger rewards. This ability to delay gratification is a significant factor...
Humans, however, can respond to delayed reinforcers. We often make decisions between immediate small rewards and delayed larger rewards. This ability to delay gratification is a significant factor...