Dieting and working memory: preoccupying cognitions and the role of the articulatory control process.
OBJECTIVE
The study aimed to extend previous research that has demonstrated impaired cognitive function among dieters, by teasing out precisely which components of the phonological loop subsystem of working memory are affected by dieting.


METHODS
Participants were 92 female undergraduate students divided into three groups; current dieters (n = 19), past dieters (n = 29) and never dieters (n = 44). They completed cognitive performance tasks designed to preferentially load on the phonological store and articulatory control process components of the phonological loop, as well as self-report measures.


RESULTS
Current dieting to lose weight had no effect on the phonological store, as evidenced by the lack of effect on the phonological similarity effect. Dieting did, however, impede the articulatory control process, as evidenced by substantial reduction in the world length effect. This effect was partially mediated by preoccupying cognitions concerning food, weight and body shape. Further, the results mirrored those found with non-dieters under conditions of articulatory suppression.


CONCLUSIONS
The results clearly identify the articulatory control process as the site of the cognitive impairment suffered by dieters, and thereby offer very strong support to the preoccupying cognitions concerning food, weight and body shape that accompany dieting behaviour as the underlying mechanism.
Shaw
Jacqueline
J
School of Psychology, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
Tiggemann
Marika
M
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001184:Articulation Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D009770:Obsessive Behavior