Minding One's Reach (To Eat): The Promise of Computer Mouse-Tracking to Study Self-Regulation of Eating

Abstract

In this review, we present the case for using computer mouse-tracking techniques to examine psychological processes that support (and hinder) self-regulation of eating. We first argue that computer mouse-tracking is suitable for studying the simultaneous engagement of—and dynamic interactions between—multiple perceptual and cognitive processes as they unfold and interact over a fine temporal scale (i.e., hundreds of milliseconds). Next, we review recent work that implemented mouse-tracking techniques by measuring mouse movements as participants chose between various food items (of varying nutritional content). Lastly, we propose next steps for future investigations to link behavioral features from mouse-tracking paradigms, corresponding neural correlates, and downstream eating behaviors.

Motivation and self‐regulation: The role of want‐to motivation in the processes underlying self‐regulation and self‐control

“…In order to capture the self‐regulation process as it unfolds, researchers can take advantage of tracing methods—including eye‐tracking and mouse‐tracking methodologies—to more directly observe how people make decisions in a given moment (e.g., Freeman, ; Freeman & Ambady, ). This is especially relevant to self‐regulation research, as such goal‐related decisions often occur automatically (i.e., in a few hundred milliseconds) and sometimes even unconsciously (see Lopez, Stillman, Heatherton, & Freeman, for a more detailed review). For example, research using mouse tracking to assess self‐control conflict found that people generally experience conflict when choosing between goal‐congruent (e.g., healthy food) and more tempting (e.g., unhealthy food) options (relative to a comparison group; e.g., food vs. non‐food item); however, those with higher levels of trait self‐control experienced less conflict (Stillman, Medvedev, & Ferguson, ).…”

Motivation and self-regulation: The role of want-to motivation in the processes underlying self-regulation and self-control

“…In order to capture the self-regulation process as it unfolds, researchers can take advantage of tracing methods -including eye-tracking and mouse-tracking methodologies -to more directly observe how people make decisions in a given moment (e.g., Freeman, 2018;Freeman & Ambady, 2010). This is especially relevant to self-regulation research, as such goalrelated decisions often occur automatically (i.e., in a few hundred milliseconds) and sometimes even unconsciously (see Lopez, Stillman, Heatherton, & Freeman, 2018 for a more detailed review). For example, research using mouse-tracking to assess self-control conflict found that people generally experience conflict when choosing between goal-congruent (e.g., healthy food) and more tempting (e.g., unhealthy food) options (relative to a comparison group; e.g., food vs.…”

Mouse tracking reveals structure knowledge in the absence of model-based choice

“…Recent research in other decision-making domains has highlighted the usefulness of studying peoples' mouse trajectories in computer-based tasks. This research has focused on using the mouse trajectories to infer how strongly decision-makers favor their chosen options [30][31][32][33][34][35][36] . We reasoned that it should be possible to similarly use mouse trajectories to infer how strongly decisionmakers expect particular outcomes.…”