Is there a memory bias for high calorie food images?

Abstract

It is unclear if, and to what extent, the human memory system is biased towards food and food relevant stimuli. Drawing upon existing demonstrations of attentional biases to high calorie food images, and findings that evolutionarily relevant stimuli are preferentially remembered, we hypothesized that images of high calorie foods would be better remembered than images of low calorie foods and nonfood items. Investigating this is important because a general bias towards remembering high calorie images might facilitate greater incentive learning towards these images which could result in cue-induced overconsumption. We tested this in two pre-registered, within-subject studies (ns = 38). In Experiment 1, using a rapid stream visual presentation procedure and recognition memory test, we found no effect of image type (high calorie, low calorie, nonfood) on recognition for previously seen images (F < 1.0). However, we did observe fewer correct rejections (i.e. more false memories) for novel low calorie images. In Experiment 2, we used a longer encoding procedure and free recall memory test and similarly failed to observe an effect of image type on recall (F < 1.0). We did discover several other factors that correlate with image memory which we discuss along with the implications of these results and directions for future research.

Eating behavior as a new frontier in memory research

“…Indeed in our own studies (see discussion below), we have found evidence of weak positive correlations between memory of eating (Seitz et al, 2021) and memory of high calorie food stimuli (Seitz, Equita, Tomiyama, & Blaisdell, 2020) and BMI. Thus, individuals with overweight and obesity might show some memory biases towards eating and food relevant cues but this remains poorly understood.…”