Inhibitory spillover and inhibitory control of eating behavior
Final Report Abstract
In the present project, the effect of a novel paradigm for the increase of self-control (Inhibitory Spillover Effect, ISE) on eating and eating-related stimuli was investigated in individuals with normal and overweight. The ISE describes the phenomenon that self-control performed in one task can spill over to an independent other task performed simultaneously. In an experiment on the effect of simultaneously performed thought control on eating behavior in a taste test, no difference was found between subjects with normal and with overweight due to a performed ISE (Experiment 1). Contrary to the hypothesis, subjects who applied an ISE ate more in the taste test than subjects without an ISE. This can be explained by possible rebound effects of the performed thought control as ISE induction. In two other experiments, ISE was induced through learning of control-related words and compared to learning of neutral words. No effect of learning control-related words on eating behavior in a taste test (Experiment 2) or response to food pictures in a reaction task (Experiment 3) was shown in subjects with normal or overweight. Presumably, this experimental setup is not suitable to produce an ISE. In a training study (Experiment 4), self-control training based on the ISE was conducted with eight training sessions only with persons with overweight. Compared to the start of training, there were no differential effects depending on the training condition at the end of training and 3 months later, neither in terms of weight nor in terms of eating behavior. Nevertheless, in all the mentioned differences there was a tendency in the hypothesized direction, so that further investigation of the well-tolerated and practically implementable training is worthwhile. Overall, the present study was not able to demonstrate the intended effect of ISE, but there are exciting points of reference for future studies.
Publications
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Does a white bear help you eat less? The impact of the inhibitory spillover effect on eating behaviour. European Eating Disorders Review, 31(5), 685-695.
Vöhringer, Julian; Hütter, Mandy; Schroeder, Philipp A. & Svaldi, Jennifer
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Facilitation of simultaneous control? A meta-analysis of the inhibitory spillover effect.. Psychological Review, 130(3), 770-789.
Vöhringer, Julian; Schroeder, Philipp A.; Hütter, Mandy & Svaldi, Jennifer
