ORCID

Abstract

Elaborated Intrusion theory (EI theory; Kavanagh, Andrade, & May, 2005) posits two main cognitive components in craving: associative processes that lead to intrusive thoughts about the craved substance or activity, and elaborative processes supporting mental imagery of the substance or activity. We used a novel visuospatial task to test the hypothesis that visual imagery plays a key role in craving. Experiment 1 showed that spending 10 min constructing shapes from modeling clay (plasticine) reduced participants' craving for chocolate compared with spending 10 min 'letting your mind wander'. Increasing the load on verbal working memory using a mental arithmetic task (counting backwards by threes) did not reduce craving further. Experiment 2 compared effects on craving of a simpler verbal task (counting by ones) and clay modeling. Clay modeling reduced overall craving strength and strength of craving imagery, and reduced the frequency of thoughts about chocolate. The results are consistent with EI theory, showing that craving is reduced by loading the visuospatial sketchpad of working memory but not by loading the phonological loop. Clay modeling might be a useful self-help tool to help manage craving for chocolate, snacks and other foods.

DOI

10.1016/j.appet.2012.02.044

Publication Date

2012-06-01

Publication Title

Appetite

Volume

58

Issue

3

ISSN

0195-6663

Organisational Unit

School of Psychology

Keywords

Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aluminum Silicates, Appetite, Behavior Therapy, Cacao, Clay, Diet, Female, Food Preferences, Humans, Imagery, Psychotherapy, Imagination, Male, Mathematics, Memory, Short-Term, Middle Aged, Organic Chemicals, Psychological Theory, Thinking, Visual Perception, Young Adult

First Page

955

Last Page

963

Download

Share

COinS