scholarly journals Reliability and Convergence of Approach/Avoidance Bias Assessment Tasks in the Food Consumption Domain

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian Basanovic ◽  
Laura Dondzilo ◽  
Daniel Rudaizky ◽  
Bram Van Bockstaele
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Convergent Validity ◽  
Eating Behaviour ◽  
Avoidance Task ◽  
Food Craving ◽  
Unhealthy Food ◽  
Food Cues ◽  
Internal Reliability ◽  
Approach Bias ◽  
Approach Avoidance

Theories of motivation posit that people will more readily approach positive or appetitive stimuli while they are more likely to avoid negative or aversive stimuli. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the relationship between biases in approach and avoidance behaviours for food cues and food craving and consumption behaviour. Two paradigms commonly employed by research to investigate this relationship are the Approach Avoidance Task (AAT) and the Stimulus Response Compatibility Task (SRCT). However, it is yet to be determined whether the measures yielded by these tasks reflect the same processes operating in the food craving and consumption domain. The purpose of the present study will be to address whether the AAT and SRCT paradigms provide internally reliable and convergent measures in their assessment of approach/avoidance bias to healthy and unhealthy food stimuli, and whether measures of approach/avoidance biases to healthy and unhealthy food yielded by the AAT and SRCT paradigms demonstrate comparable associations with individual differences in food craving and eating behaviour. The study will require participants to complete an SRCT, and two task variants of the AAT, and an estimate of participants’ approach bias towards unhealthy food relative to healthy food will be computed from each. Analyses will determine the internal reliability of each of the approach bias scores, the degree to which the approach bias scores show convergent validity, and the degree to which the approach bias scores from each task are concurrently associated with individual differences in food craving and eating behaviour.

The Color Red Supports Avoidance Reactions to Unhealthy Food

2015 ◽  
Vol 62 (5) ◽  
pp. 335-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michaela Rohr ◽  
Friederike Kamm ◽  
Joerg Koenigstorfer ◽  
Andrea Groeppel-Klein ◽  
Dirk Wentura
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Healthy Food ◽  
Avoidance Task ◽  
Unhealthy Food ◽  
Traffic Light ◽  
Behavioral Reactions ◽  
Food Items ◽  
Approach Avoidance ◽  
Task Irrelevant ◽  
Avoidance Reactions

Abstract. Empirical evidence suggests that the color red acts like an implicit avoidance cue in food contexts. Thus specific colors seem to guide the implicit evaluation of food items. We built upon this research by investigating the implicit meaning of color (red vs. green) in an approach-avoidance task with healthy and unhealthy food items. Thus, we examined the joint evaluative effects of color and food: Participants had to categorize food items by approach-avoidance reactions, according to their healthfulness. Items were surrounded by task-irrelevant red or green circles. We found that the implicit meaning of the traffic light colors influenced participants’ reactions to the food items. The color red (compared to green) facilitated automatic avoidance reactions to unhealthy foods. By contrast, approach behavior toward healthy food items was not moderated by color. Our findings suggest that traffic light colors can act as implicit cues that guide automatic behavioral reactions to food.

scholarly journals Patients with Ventromedial Prefrontal Lesions Show an Implicit Approach Bias to Angry Faces

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Macià Buades-Rotger ◽  
Anne-Kristin Solbakk ◽  
Matthias Liebrand ◽  
Tor Endestad ◽  
Ingrid Funderud ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Facial Expressions ◽  
Avoidance Task ◽  
Social Signals ◽  
Emotional Facial Expressions ◽  
Approach Bias ◽  
Linear Ballistic Accumulator ◽  
Implicit Approach ◽  
Negative Drift ◽  
Approach Avoidance ◽  
And Gender

Abstract Damage to the ventromedial PFC (VMPFC) can cause maladaptive social behavior, but the cognitive processes underlying these behavioral changes are still uncertain. Here, we tested whether patients with acquired VMPFC lesions show altered approach–avoidance tendencies to emotional facial expressions. Thirteen patients with focal VMPFC lesions and 31 age- and gender-matched healthy controls performed an implicit approach–avoidance task in which they either pushed or pulled a joystick depending on stimulus color. Whereas controls avoided angry faces, VMPFC patients displayed an incongruent response pattern characterized by both increased approach and reduced avoidance of angry facial expressions. The approach bias was stronger in patients with higher self-reported impulsivity and disinhibition and in those with larger lesions. We further used linear ballistic accumulator modeling to investigate latent parameters underlying approach–avoidance decisions. Controls displayed negative drift rates when approaching angry faces, whereas VMPFC lesions abolished this pattern. In addition, VMPFC patients had weaker response drifts than controls during avoidance. Finally, patients showed reduced drift rate variability and shorter nondecision times, indicating impulsive and rigid decision-making. Our findings thus suggest that VMPFC damage alters the pace of evidence accumulation in response to social signals, eliminating a default, protective avoidant bias and facilitating a dysfunctional approach behavior.

scholarly journals Orbitofrontal lesion patients show an implicit approach bias to angry faces

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Macià Buades-Rotger ◽  
Anne-Kristin Solbakk ◽  
Matthias Liebrand ◽  
Tor Endestad ◽  
Ingrid Funderud ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Behavior ◽  
Facial Expressions ◽  
Orbitofrontal Cortex ◽  
Avoidance Task ◽  
Social Signals ◽  
Emotional Facial Expressions ◽  
Approach Bias ◽  
Implicit Approach ◽  
Approach Avoidance ◽  
Angry Face

AbstractDamage to the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) can cause maladaptive social behavior, but the cognitive processes underlying these behavioral changes are still uncertain. Here, we tested whether patients with acquired OFC lesions show altered approach-avoidance tendencies to emotional facial expressions. Thirteen patients with focal OFC lesions and 31 age- and gender-matched healthy controls performed an implicit approach-avoidance task in which they either pushed or pulled a joystick depending on stimulus color. While controls avoided angry faces, OFC patients displayed an incongruent response pattern characterized by both increased approach and reduced avoidance of angry facial expressions. The approach bias was stronger in patients with higher self-reported impulsivity and disinhibition, and in those with larger lesions. Moreover, patients committed more errors in the task, which in turn was correlated with self-rated clinical impairment. We further used linear ballistic accumulator modelling to investigate latent parameters underlying approach-avoidance decisions. Controls displayed negative drift rates when approaching angry faces, whereas OFC lesions abolished this bias. In addition, OFC patients had weaker response drifts than controls during angry face avoidance. Finally, patients showed generally reduced variability in drift rates and shorter non-decision times, indicating impulsive and rigid decision-making. In sum, our findings suggest that OFC damage alters the pace of evidence accumulation in response to threat signals, eliminating a default, protective avoidant bias and facilitating dysfunctional approach behavior.Significance statementLesions in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) may alter social behavior, rendering individuals irritable or reckless. However, the precise cognitive mechanisms underlying these changes are unknown. We here examined whether OFC damage impacts how persons respond to social signals using a joystick-based task. Contrary to control participants, patients showed both increased approach to, and reduced avoidance of angry facial expressions, i.e. they were quicker to pull angry faces close and slower to push them away. Further analyses of reaction times revealed that OFC patients lack a default tendency against angry face approach, and that they show a slower decision build-up when avoiding angry faces. Thus, our findings suggest that OFC lesions reduce fearful responses to social threat signals.

scholarly journals Ambivalent Food Craving and Psychobiological Characteristics in Individuals With Weight Suppression

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mooah Lee ◽  
Jang-Han Lee
Keyword(s):  
Body Shape ◽  
Food Craving ◽  
Drive For Thinness ◽  
Food Cues ◽  
Approach And Avoidance ◽  
Weight Suppression ◽  
Implicit Approach ◽  
Approach Avoidance ◽  
The Difference ◽  
High Level

This study investigated the effects of psychobiological characteristics of non-obese women with a high level of weight suppression (H-WS) on explicit-implicit and approach-avoidance response toward food cues, depending on hunger-satiety states. The 634 participants were divided into two groups according to their weight history. If the difference between their highest weight over the last year and their current weight (a difference sustained at least for 1 year) was more than 5%, they were assigned to the “H-WS” group (N = 25). If the difference in weight was less than 5%, they were assigned to the “low level of weight suppression” (L-WS) group (N = 29). Explicit approach and avoidance toward food were measured by self-report questionnaires. Implicit approach and avoidance toward food cues were measured using an eye-tracker. Fasting blood samples were obtained to measure fasting serum leptin levels. After this, participants consumed a standard breakfast to control the satiety level. After breakfast, explicit-implicit approach-avoidance responses were repeatedly measured at the satiety states. Self-reported body shape concerns, drive for thinness, ambivalent food craving, and bulimic behavior were also assessed. The results showed that the H-WS group had lower leptin levels, and higher body shape concerns, drive for thinness, ambivalent food craving, and bulimic behaviors compared to the L-WS group. At the explicit level, the H-WS group reported lower approach and higher avoidance to food compared to the L-WS group, regardless of hunger-satiety state. Whereas, at the implicit level, the H-WS group showed higher approach during satiety rather than during hunger states. Regardless of the hunger-satiety state, there were no significant group differences with regard to implicit avoidance between the two groups. Thus, we confirmed that a high level of avoidance toward foods was observed in the H-WS group at the explicit level but not at the implicit level. Moreover, in contrast with a high level of explicit avoidance toward palatable foods, inhibition for implicit approach toward high-calorie foods seemed to be blunted after food consumption in the H-WS group. These inconsistencies may be associated with ambivalent food craving and vulnerability to bulimic behavior among H-WS individuals.

Validation of the German Version of the Exercise Dependence Scale

2013 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 213-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Astrid Müller ◽  
Laurence Claes ◽  
Dirk Smits ◽  
Olaf Gefeller ◽  
Anja Hilbert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Convergent Validity ◽  
Discriminant Validity ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Exercise Dependence ◽  
German Population ◽  
German Version ◽  
Internal Reliability ◽  
Eating Disorder Examination ◽  
Dependence Scale

This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the German version of the 21-item Exercise Dependence Scale (EDS-G), which was administered in a large representative German sample (N = 1,611). In order to examine convergent validity, we also asked participants to answer the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q). To investigate the discriminant validity, clients of fitness centers (N = 129), sport students (N = 85), and medical students (N = 129) filled out the EDS-G. In this German population-based sample, the seven-factor structure suggested by the original authors as well as a higher-order model (7 + 1 factor model) were supported. The total EDS-G scale showed an excellent internal reliability and was positively related to the EDE-Q total and subscale scores. The EDS-G scores differentiated between samples with varying degrees of exercise. In summary, the results indicate that the EDS-G is a psychometrically sound and potentially valid brief measure for the assessment of exercise dependence symptoms.

scholarly journals Cognitive appraisals of dissociation in psychosis: a new brief measure

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Emma Černis ◽  
Jessica C. Bird ◽  
Andrew Molodynski ◽  
Anke Ehlers ◽  
Daniel Freeman
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Convergent Validity ◽  
Intraclass Correlation ◽  
Cognitive Appraisals ◽  
Test Reliability ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
Psychotic Experiences ◽  
Internal Reliability ◽  
Dissociative Experiences ◽  
Additional Variance

Abstract Background: Catastrophic cognitive appraisals, similar to those in anxiety disorders, are implicated in depersonalisation, a form of dissociation. No scales exist to measure appraisals of dissociative experiences. Dissociation is common in psychosis. Misinterpretations of dissociative experiences may maintain psychotic symptoms. Therefore, assessing appraisals in this context may be valuable. Aims: The primary aim was to develop a measure of key appraisals of dissociation in psychosis. Secondary aims were to test the relationship between appraisals and psychotic experiences (paranoia and hallucinations), and determine whether appraisals explain additional variance in psychotic symptoms above dissociative symptoms. Method: Fifty items were generated from transcripts of interviews with patients. The measure was developed and psychometrically validated via factor analysis of data from 9902 general population participants and 1026 patients with psychosis. Convergent validity, test–re-test reliability, and internal reliability were assessed. Regression analyses tested relationships with psychotic symptoms. Results: A 13-item single-factor measure was developed. Factor analysis indicated good model fit [χ2(65) = 247.173, comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.960, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.052]. The scale had good convergent validity with a rumination (non-clinical: r = 0.71; clinical: r = 0.73) and dissociation measure (r = 0.81; r = 0.80), high internal consistency (α = 0.93; α = 0.93), and excellent 1-week test–re-test reliability [intraclass correlation (ICC) = 0.90]. It explained variance in psychotic symptoms (paranoia: 36.4%; hallucinations: 35.0%), including additional variance compared with dissociation alone (paranoia: 5.3%; hallucinations: 2.3%). Conclusions: The Cognitive Appraisals of Dissociation in Psychosis (CAD-P) measure is a psychometrically robust scale identifying appraisals of dissociative experiences in psychosis and is associated with the presence of psychotic experiences. It is likely to prove useful for clinical assessment and research.

scholarly journals Can we change binge eating behaviour by interventions addressing food-related impulsivity? A systematic review

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Başak İnce ◽  
Johanna Schlatter ◽  
Sebastian Max ◽  
Christian Plewnia ◽  
Stephan Zipfel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Binge Eating ◽  
Inhibitory Control ◽  
Eating Behaviour ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Food Craving ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
Eating Frequency ◽  
Close Relationship

Abstract Background An extensive amount of research has underlined the potential role of impulsivity in the development and maintenance of binge eating behaviour. Food-related impulsivity has particularly received attention given its close relationship with overeating and binge eating episodes. Besides the available evidence, our understanding regarding the effectiveness of treatment modalities for binge eating targeting impulsivity and related constructs (e.g., food craving, inhibitory control, and reward sensitivity) is limited. Thus, this systematic review aimed to investigate whether binge eating behaviour is changeable by interventions that are impulsivity-focused and food-related and whether one of these interventions is superior to the others. Method A search on PubMed and PsycINFO was performed for relevant articles published up to September 2020. Studies delivering food-related impulsivity treatment to individuals suffering from binge eating episodes and including a control condition without this treatment were investigated. Following the search, 15 studies meeting the eligibility criteria were analysed. Results Analyses revealed that available impulsivity-focused approaches can be categorised as psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, computer-assisted cognitive training, and direct neuromodulation interventions. Regarding their effectiveness, it appeared that all of these approaches might be promising to change food-related impulsivity in individuals with binge eating episodes, particularly to decrease binge eating symptoms. However, a superior intervention approach in this early state of evidence could not be determined, although food-related cue exposure, transcranial direct current stimulation, and the combination of several interventions seem fruitful. Conclusion Efforts to treat binge eating behaviour with interventions focusing on food-related impulsivity appear to be promising, particularly concerning binge eating frequency, and also for food craving and inhibitory control. Given limited research and varying methods, it was not possible to conclude whether one impulsivity-focused intervention can be considered superior to others.

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