title: Effects of energy conditioning on food preferences and choice.
abstract: This study investigated the development of conditioned preferences for foods varying in energy content in human adults in a laboratory setting. In a within-subjects design, 44 participants consumed high and low energy yoghurt drinks (255 kcal and 57 kcal per 200 ml serving, respectively) first thing in the morning following 8 h of fasting, every day for two weeks, with 5 exposures to each yoghurt drink on alternate days. The high and low energy yoghurt drinks were paired with two coloured labels (blue or pink), with the pairings fully counter-balanced. Every day of the third (test) week, participants were given a free choice of either consuming the pink or the blue labelled yoghurt drink. Participants chose the high energy drink significantly more often over the low energy drink, suggesting a conditioned preference for a delayed (energy) reward. These findings provide further evidence for energy based learning in human adults. This study also provides a new approach to the conditioning paradigm (cueing energy via a coloured label instead of flavour) and includes a new and important measure in this research area (preference instead of liking).
authors: Sensation, Perception & Behaviour, Unilever R&D Vlaardingen, AC Vlaardingen, The Netherlands. liesbeth.zandstra@unilever.com
authors: Elizabeth H
authors: EH
authors: Zandstra
authors: Wael
authors: W
authors: El-Deredy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001628:Beverages; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological; D003463:Cues; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D058870:Food, Organic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013649:Taste; D015014:Yogurt; D055815:Young Adult