title: Food-related attentional bias. Word versus pictorial stimuli and the importance of stimuli calorific value in the dot probe task.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The primary aim of this study was to extend previous research on food-related attentional biases by examining biases towards pictorial versus word stimuli, and foods of high versus low calorific value. It was expected that participants would demonstrate greater biases to pictures over words, and to high-calorie over low-calorie foods. A secondary aim was to examine associations between BMI, dietary restraint, external eating and attentional biases. It was expected that high scores on these individual difference variables would be associated with a bias towards high-calorie stimuli.
  
  
  METHODS
  Undergraduates (N = 99) completed a dot probe task including matched word and pictorial food stimuli in a controlled setting. Questionnaires assessing eating behaviour were administered, and height and weight were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Contrary to predictions, there were no main effects for stimuli type (pictures vs words) or calorific value (high vs low). There was, however, a significant interaction effect suggesting a bias towards high-calorie pictures, but away from high-calorie words; and a bias towards low-calorie words, but away from low-calorie pictures. No associations between attentional bias and any of the individual difference variables were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of a stimulus type by calorific value interaction demonstrates the importance of stimuli type in the dot probe task, and may help to explain inconsistencies in prior research. Further research is needed to clarify associations between attentional bias and BMI, restraint, and external eating.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: Tanya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Freijy
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. Electronic address: barbara.mullan@curtin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mullan
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sharpe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001245:Association Learning; D001288:Attention; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005502:Food / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017145:Models, Educational; D009517:New South Wales; D009753:Nutritive Value; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities; D014706:Verbal Learning; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Attentional bias; Cognition; Dot probe; Eating behaviour; Food; Stimuli