Pupil diameter during cognitive reappraisal predicts the desire to eat

Cognitive reappraisal involves reinterpreting negative content to reduce its negative impact. Recent findings suggest that cognitive reappraisal can attenuate the link between emotions and eating-related measures. The level of regulatory engagement during the use of cognitive reappraisal can be assessed by physiological markers such as pupil dilation. The present study examined whether trial-by-trial within-person variations in pupil diameter while implementing reappraisal can predict subsequent desire to eat. Forty-three healthy females completed a computerized task combining a standard reappraisal task with a food-rating task. Participants viewed negative or neutral non-food-related images and were instructed to observe them passively or reappraise their content. Each image was followed by a picture of a food item, and participants rated their desire to eat the depicted food. Observing negative images led to an immediate reduction in the desire to eat compared to viewing emotionally neutral images. Importantly, applying reappraisal reduced the impact of negative emotions on the desire to eat. Moreover, greater pupil dilation during reappraisal, but not during passive viewing of negative or neutral images, predicted higher subsequent desire to eat. These findings suggest that regulatory engagement plays a key role in shaping the relationship between emotions and the desire to eat. The study offers insights relevant to understanding disorders involving both dysregulated eating and difficulties applying cognitive reappraisal.