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'Just imagine…': mental imagery correlates with Food Neophobia
Mei Peng1, Jessica C McCormack1, Sashie Abeywickrema2
1Sensory Neuroscience and Nutrition Laboratory (SENNSE LAB), Department of Food Science, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Food Research International (Ottawa, Ont.)
|January 9, 2026
Summary
Food neophobia (FN), the avoidance of novel foods, is linked to mental imagery (MI) abilities. Individuals with higher FN experience more difficulty imagining food flavors, suggesting a cognitive component to picky eating.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Food neophobia (FN) is a reluctance to eat novel foods, impacting dietary habits and health.
- Previous research focused on sensory and emotional factors, leaving cognitive mechanisms underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between individual differences in mental imagery (MI) and food neophobia (FN).
- To explore the cognitive underpinnings of anticipatory responses to unfamiliar foods.
Main Methods:
- Study 1: Large-scale online survey (N=1443) assessing FN and multisensory MI vividness.
- Study 2: Laboratory-based computerised task evaluating imagined food flavor and texture vividness in relation to FN.
Main Results:
- A small but significant negative correlation was found between FN and multisensory MI vividness.
- High FN individuals reported greater difficulty generating imagined food flavors compared to low FN individuals.
Conclusions:
- Mental imagery (MI) is a significant cognitive correlate of food neophobia (FN).
- The ability to mentally simulate sensory experiences may be an underappreciated factor in food neophobia.
- This cognitive perspective offers new avenues for understanding and addressing reluctance towards novel foods.
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