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A home-based progressive-ratio task for assessing food reinforcement in infancy: Developmental sensitivity at 9 and
Amanda K Crandall1, Claire V Dennis2, Ashley N Gearhardt3
1Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, North Campus Research Complex, Building 520, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA; Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
Infants show clearer differentiation between food and nonfood reinforcement at 12 months compared to 9 months. This developmental shift in relative reinforcing value of food (RRVFood) may influence eating behaviors and weight gain.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Behavioral Economics
- Pediatric Obesity Research
Background:
- The relative reinforcing value of food (RRVFood) is theorized to emerge early and contribute to obesity risk.
- Understanding infant motivation for food is crucial for early obesity prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine if infants differentiate between food and nonfood reinforcement at 9 and 12 months of age.
- To investigate the relationship between RRVFood, food consumption, appetitive traits, and weight-for-length z-score (WLZ) at these ages.
Main Methods:
- Infants (n=110 at 9 months, n=133 at 12 months) completed a progressive-ratio lever-press task for food (cereal) and nonfood (block) reinforcers.
- Relative reinforcing value of food (RRVFood) was calculated as the ratio of responses for food versus nonfood.
- Maternal questionnaires (CEBQ-T) and anthropometric measures (WLZ) were collected.
Main Results:
- At 9 months, no significant association was found between RRVFood and food consumption, appetitive traits, or WLZ.
- By 12 months, RRVFood positively correlated with enjoyment of food, and absolute reinforcing value of food (ARVFood) positively correlated with WLZ.
- Infants demonstrated a more meaningful differentiation between food and nonfood reinforcement at 12 months than at 9 months.
Conclusions:
- Food reinforcement becomes more distinctly differentiated from nonfood reinforcement between 9 and 12 months of age.
- This developmental change in food motivation may have implications for understanding early obesity risk.
- Further research is needed to determine if this reflects developmental consolidation or measurement limitations.
