Competing visual and olfactory imagery tasks suppress craving for coffee.

Full Abstract

Using the elaborated intrusion theory of desire as a theoretical basis, the present experiments investigated whether mutual competition between modality-specific tasks and desire-related imagery can suppress cravings for caffeine--in particular, coffee. Data from a pilot survey (Experiment 1) in 106 female undergraduate habitual coffee drinkers showed that coffee cravings are characterized predominantly by sensory images in the visual, olfactory, and gustatory modalities. Experiments 2 and 3 tested the prediction that a competing visual or olfactory imagery task would reduce such cravings, relative to an auditory imagery task. In each experiment, 90 female undergraduate habitual coffee drinkers were asked to forego their morning cup of coffee and were subsequently exposed to pictures of coffee (Experiment 2) or actual coffee (Experiment 3). After the craving induction protocol, participants completed either a visual, auditory, or olfactory imagery task with neutral (i.e., non-coffee-related) content. As predicted, the visual and olfactory imagery tasks reduced participants' cravings for coffee, whereas the auditory task did not. Imagery techniques in the visual or olfactory domain could provide a useful adjunct to the behavioral regime of caffeine fading for consumers who are trying to quit caffeine use or reduce their intake.

Author information

Author/s: Kemps, Eva (E); Tiggemann, Marika (M);

Affiliation: School of Psychology, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia. Eva.Kemps(-atsign-)flinders.edu.au

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology (Exp Clin Psychopharmacol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Feb; vol 17 (issue 1) : pp 43-50

Dates: Created 2009/02/03; Completed 2009/03/24;

PMID: 19186933, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 3/24/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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Associated Chemicals: Coffee (0)

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