Previous research has demonstrated that imagining consumption of a specific type of food helps individuals to consume less of that food. The present event-related potential study aimed at investigating the underlying neural correlates of this appetite-reducing strategy. A total of 86 women (mean age = 23.65 years) were randomly assigned to one of three imagination conditions. In each condition, they listened to a guided imagery script that either described the eating of 30 colorful button-shaped chocolates (M&Ms), the sorting of 30 M&Ms by color, or the sorting of 30 marbles by color. Subsequently to the imagery task, the participants were presented with images of M&Ms and marbles while their electroencephalogram and craving ratings were recorded. The results showed that imaginary eating did not reduce the appetitive value of M&M pictures. The M&M sorting group reported enhanced craving and showed increased late positivity toward M&M pictures (300-600 ms after picture onset) compared to the two other groups. The present findings indicate that the imagined handling of food increases food cue reactivity and that imaginary eating is not a reliable method to reduce appetite.

中文翻译：

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想象进食对视觉食物线索反应性的影响：一项与事件相关的潜在研究

先前的研究表明，想象食用某种特定类型的食物有助于个人减少食用该食物。目前的事件相关潜在研究旨在调查这种降低食欲策略的潜在神经相关性。共有 86 名女性（平均年龄 = 23.65 岁）被随机分配到三种想象条件之一。在每种情况下，他们都会听一个引导式图像脚本，该脚本描述了吃 30 颗彩色纽扣巧克力 (M&Ms)、按颜色对 30 颗 M&M 巧克力进行分类，或按颜色对 30 颗弹珠进行分类。在图像任务之后，参与者会看到 M&Ms 和弹珠的图像，同时记录他们的脑电图和渴望评级。结果表明，想象中的进食并没有降低M&的食欲值 M 图片。与其他两组相比，M&M 分类组报告了对 M&M 图片的渴望增强并显示出对 M&M 图片的后期积极性增加（图片开始后 300-600 毫秒）。目前的研究结果表明，想象中的食物处理会增加食物线索的反应性，而想象中的进食并不是降低食欲的可靠方法。