Effects of hunger and visuo-spatial interference on imagery-induced food cravings

The present study investigated the effects of hunger and visuo-spatial interference on imagery-induced food cravings. Forty-two women were randomly assigned to a hungry (no food for prior 4 h) or not hungry condition. Participants were asked to form and maintain images of desired foods while looking at a blank computer screen (control condition) or performing a task designed to load the visuo-spatial sketchpad of working memory (dynamic visual noise). They then rated the vividness of their images and their craving intensity. Although hungry participants reported stronger food cravings, dynamic visual noise made images less vivid and cravings less intense, irrespective of participant hunger status. Thus concurrent visuo-spatial processing may offer a useful technique for treating problematic food cravings that are predominantly psychological in origin, as well as those that are hunger-driven.