Food Cue-Reactivity in Human Sign-Trackers and Goal-Trackers

Presenters/Authors(s)

Gillian Kaier, Logan Riffey, Mariya Cherkasova, Polina Krom

Abstract or Description

West Virginia has the second highest rate of obesity in the nation. Rats have been found to vary in a trait-like propensity to attribute motivation value to food cues. Individuals classified as sign-trackers (ST) imbue such cues with more motivational value than those classified as goal-trackers (GT). The goal of this study was to examine the relationship between sign-tracking versus goal-tracking propensity and food cue reactivity in humans. Participants were classified as ST or GT using an index of eye gaze fixations (on reward predictive cues versus upcoming reward locations) in a Pavlovian conditioning paradigm. Food cue-reactivity was measured using both self-ratings of food craving (using three questionnaires) and event-related potentials recorded with electroencephalography (EEG) following cue exposure. During cue exposure, participants viewed images of palatable sweet and savory food items, as well as neutral control stimuli (everyday objects). We hypothesize that individuals classified as ST report stronger cue-induced food cravings and higher amplitudes of P300 and late positive potentials in response to food cues. Data collection is in progress. Preliminary results will be presented. The results of this study will provide a greater understanding of dispositions of food cue reactivity which is known to predict unhealthy eating and obesity.