title: Reward sensitivity predicts ice cream-related attentional bias assessed by inattentional blindness.
abstract: The cognitive mechanism underlying the association between individual differences in reward sensitivity and food craving is unknown. The present study explored the mechanism by examining the role of reward sensitivity in attentional bias toward ice cream cues. Forty-nine college students who displayed high level of ice cream craving (HICs) and 46 who displayed low level of ice cream craving (LICs) performed an inattentional blindness (IB) task which was used to assess attentional bias for ice cream. In addition, reward sensitivity and coping style were assessed by the Behavior Inhibition System/Behavior Activation System Scales and Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire. Results showed significant higher identification rate of the critical stimulus in the HICs than LICs, suggesting greater attentional bias for ice cream in the HICs. It was indicated that attentional bias for food cues persisted even under inattentional condition. Furthermore, a significant correlation was found between the attentional bias and reward sensitivity after controlling for coping style, and reward sensitivity predicted attentional bias for food cues. The mediation analyses showed that attentional bias mediated the relationship between reward sensitivity and food craving. Those findings suggest that the association between individual differences in reward sensitivity and food craving may be attributed to attentional bias for food-related cues.
authors: Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China; Department of Medical Psychology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
authors: Xiaoming
authors: X
authors: Li
authors: Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
authors: Qian
authors: Q
authors: Tao
authors: Department of Medical Psychology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
authors: Ya
authors: Y
authors: Fang
authors: Department of Medical Psychology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
authors: Chen
authors: C
authors: Cheng
authors: Department of Medical Psychology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
authors: Yangyang
authors: Y
authors: Hao
authors: Department of Medical Psychology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
authors: Jianjun
authors: J
authors: Qi
authors: Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.
authors: Yu
authors: Y
authors: Li
authors: Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Zhang
authors: Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China; School of Humanities & Social Science, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; Center of Medical Physics and Technology, CAS, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Hefei 230031, China; Centers for Biomedical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China. Electronic address: zxcustc@ustc.edu.cn.
authors: Xiaochu
authors: X
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001288:Attention; D066249:Craving; D003463:Cues; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007054:Ice Cream; D007206:Individuality; D012201:Reward; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Attention bias; Inattentional blindness; Reward sensitivity