Abstract In this paper, we test whether the evaluation of food healthiness is affected by tactile surface qualities that are seen but not touched. Furthermore, we explored if visually based tactile surface cues influence perception more or less depending on whether they are explicitly or implicitly presented. Participants were shown 3 implicitly and 3 explicitly textured biscuits that were identical apart from the surface texture. The surfaces were either smooth, medium or rough and were rated on perceived healthiness. Additionally, the biscuits were rated on tastiness, likelihood of purchase, crunchiness and chewiness, aspects that can affect consumer choice outcomes. A pattern emerged whereby implicit surface textures affected perception more than explicit textured surfaces. Specifically, perceived product healthiness was greater for medium textured implicit surfaces. Thus, it seems that food healthiness is influenced by cross-sensory cues. Implicitly rough textures were found to be perceived as crunchier. Determining food properties usually relies on exposing receptors within the mouth to the components of ingested food. However, we demonstrate here that properties such as crunchiness also can be dependent on surface texture. The findings can be used to encourage consumers to purchase healthier food products.

中文翻译：

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眼见为实：使用食品表面纹理来传达产品的健康性

摘要 在本文中，我们测试了食品健康的评价是否受看得见但未触摸的触觉表面质量的影响。此外，我们探索了基于视觉的触觉表面线索是否会或多或少地影响感知，具体取决于它们是明确呈现还是隐含呈现。向参与者展示了 3 个隐式和 3 个显式纹理的饼干，除了表面纹理外，它们是相同的。表面是光滑的、中等的或粗糙的，并根据感知的健康程度进行评级。此外，饼干还根据口味、购买可能性、松脆度和咀嚼度等可能影响消费者选择结果的方面进行评级。出现了一种模式，即隐式表面纹理比显式纹理表面更能影响感知。具体来说，对于中等纹理的隐式表面，感知的产品健康度更高。因此，食品健康似乎受到交叉感官线索的影响。发现隐含的粗糙纹理被认为更脆。确定食物特性通常依赖于将口腔内的受体暴露于摄入食物的成分中。但是，我们在此证明松脆度等特性也可能取决于表面纹理。研究结果可用于鼓励消费者购买更健康的食品。我们在此证明松脆度等特性也可能取决于表面纹理。研究结果可用于鼓励消费者购买更健康的食品。我们在此证明松脆度等特性也可能取决于表面纹理。研究结果可用于鼓励消费者购买更健康的食品。