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Musical Training Amplifies Food Cue-Related Interference in Working Memory
Mingyue Xiao1,2,3, Yatong Guo1,2, Youjia Song1,2
1Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
Behavioral Sciences (Basel, Switzerland)
|May 27, 2026
Summary
Musical training may not enhance working memory (WM) for food cues. Instead, it can increase cognitive conflict and slow performance, especially with longer training durations, due to heightened sensitivity to food stimuli.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Music Psychology
- Food Science
Background:
- Musical training is linked to cognitive benefits, but its effect on food-related cognition is unknown.
- Food craving impacts working memory (WM), especially with tempting food cues.
- This study explores the interaction between musical training, food craving, and WM.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how musical training affects working memory performance in a food-related context.
- To examine the mediating role of food craving in the relationship between musical training and WM.
- To understand how musical expertise influences cognitive responses to food cues.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-eight university students completed a food cue 2-back task.
- Electroencephalography (EEG) recorded brain activity (ERPs).
- Behavioral data, ERPs, and self-reported food craving were analyzed using mediation and moderation.
Main Results:
- Musically trained participants had slower reaction times but similar accuracy.
- Higher N2 amplitudes in musically trained individuals suggested increased cognitive conflict with high-calorie cues.
- Food craving intentions/plans mediated the link between musical training and slower performance.
Conclusions:
- Musical training may increase sensitivity to salient food cues, leading to cognitive interference rather than uniform WM enhancement.
- Individual experience and internal states significantly shape cognitive responses to food cues.
- Expertise, like musical training, can influence food-related cognition and decision-making.
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