An assessment of liking for sugars using the estimated daily intake scale

Sugar is often used in learning and conditioning studies as an unconditioned stimulus (US) to enhance liking for a flavor mixed with it. To use sugar as a US, participants are selected only if they like the taste of sugar based on their ratings of a sweetened water US during a preexposure trial prior to experimental procedures. This US-only trail introduces a potential sensory bias and can lead to participant attrition when such a trial is conducted the day prior to experimental procedures. The aim of the present study was to construct a brief scale, called the Estimated Daily Intake Scale for Sugar (EDIS-S), to measure a participant's exposure to sugar in their diet. It was hypothesized that exposure to sugar would be positively correlated with liking for sugar. As expected, an 11-item EDIS-S was reliable and significantly correlated with ratings of liking for a sweetened taste solution. Implications for the use of the EDIS-S as an assessment in many areas of research, and as a participant selection tool for conditioning studies are discussed.

Research highlights► We tested the validity and reliability of a scale that measures exposure to sugar. ► The scale is called the estimate daily intake scale for sugar (EDIS-S). ► The scale was reliable and positively correlated with ratings for a sugar solution. ► The scale provides an alternative to select participants to conditioning studies. ► The scale is the first to measure exposure to sugars, independent of health.