Affect-induction techniques and psychophysiological response in human studies of eating behavior. A systematic review...

Understanding the mechanisms underlying eating behavior is essential for identifying factors involved in its regulation. This review systematizes evidence on affect-induction techniques, their associated physiological responses, and their impact on eating behavior. We searched experimental studies published between 2014 and 2026 in SciELO, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science that assessed physiological responses to laboratory-induced acute stress or negative affect during eating-related tasks. A total of 43 studies met inclusion criteria. Affect induction techniques included social stress paradigms, arithmetic challenges, inhibitory control tasks, and exposure to emotional or food-related stimuli. The most frequently assessed physiological measures were heart rate, heart rate variability, electrodermal activity, blood pressure, and cortisol. Eating behavior measures included eating-intake paradigms, subjective assessments, and behavioral tasks. Eating-related outcomes included hunger, desire to eat, craving, urge to binge, food-related inhibitory control, and food intake. Three response patterns were observed: concurrent physiological and behavioral activation leading to increased intake, physiological activation without observable behavioral change, and stress-related eating patterns. Individuals with emotional eating tendencies or binge-eating disorder exhibited reduced inhibitory control, heightened emotional reactivity, and greater sensitivity to food cues. Stress mindset, chronic stress, emotional eating, restrained eating, and cue-reactivity influenced the relationship between stress responses and food-related behaviors. Overall, findings highlight the dynamic interplay between affective states, physiological stress responses, and eating behavior, underscoring the importance of incorporating psychological modulators into future research, alongside longitudinal study designs.