Latent food-choice dynamics in open- and closed-skill athletes across auditory conditions: A drift-diffusion modeling study

Food choices often involve conflict between immediate hedonic appeal and long-term health goals, but the influence of auditory context on decision processes remains unclear. This study examined food-choice behaviour and model-estimated decision processes in 52 university athletes (26 open-skill, 26 closed-skill) who completed a two-alternative forced-choice task between healthy and unhealthy foods under three auditory conditions: quiet, natural sound, and industrial noise. Mixed-effects models analysed reaction times and healthy-choice probability; a drift diffusion model (DDM) was used to estimate boundary separation, drift rate, non-decision time, and starting-point bias. Auditory condition significantly affected reaction time (F(2, 22513) = 15.90, p < 0.001), although unadjusted mean differences were modest (maximum: 29 ms). Sport group, auditory condition, and their interaction showed no significant effects on healthy-choice probability. Boundary separation differed across conditions (F(2, 100) = 7.558, p < 0.001), with lower estimates under natural sound (M = 1.543) and industrial noise (M = 1.536) than quiet (M = 1.607). Non-decision time showed a sport group × auditory condition interaction (F(2, 100) = 3.546, p = 0.033), with longer estimates under industrial noise primarily observed in open-skill athletes. Drift rate and starting-point bias showed no significant effects. Exploratory analysis identified an auditory condition × sport group × sex interaction for boundary separation (F(2, 96) = 4.230, p = 0.017). Background sound was associated with response timing and specific model-estimated decision parameters without detectable changes in healthy-choice probability. Applicability to real-world eating behaviour requires further investigation.