Use of a clay modeling task to reduce chocolate craving

Abstract

Elaborated Intrusion theory (EI theory; Kavanagh, Andrade, & May, 2005) posits two main cognitive components in craving: associative processes that lead to intrusive thoughts about the craved substance or activity, and elaborative processes supporting mental imagery of the substance or activity. We used a novel visuospatial task to test the hypothesis that visual imagery plays a key role in craving. Experiment 1 showed that spending 10 min constructing shapes from modeling clay (plasticine) reduced participants' craving for chocolate compared with spending 10 min 'letting your mind wander'. Increasing the load on verbal working memory using a mental arithmetic task (counting backwards by threes) did not reduce craving further. Experiment 2 compared effects on craving of a simpler verbal task (counting by ones) and clay modeling. Clay modeling reduced overall craving strength and strength of craving imagery, and reduced the frequency of thoughts about chocolate. The results are consistent with EI theory, showing that craving is reduced by loading the visuospatial sketchpad of working memory but not by loading the phonological loop. Clay modeling might be a useful self-help tool to help manage craving for chocolate, snacks and other foods.

The Craving Experience Questionnaire: a brief, theory-based measure of consummatory desire and craving

“…All studies gave responses to Strength items, and six also contributed data on Frequency. Only Studies 1 to 3 have already been published [7,21]. The primary purpose of the studies was to compare effects of various interventions upon craving.…”

Developing Synaesthesia

“…Pearson et al (2013) argue that intrusive mental imagery also plays an important role within clinical psychopathology and is associated with many disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder and social phobia. In addition, according to the Elaborated Intrusion theory of craving (Kavanagh et al, 2005), mental imagery plays a key role during craving for addictive substances and is a hallmark of the phenomenology associated with craving (Andrade et al, 2012). Intrusive imagery may often seem spontaneous, but arises frequently and with involuntary feel merely due to its ease of retrieval when activated by cues via the normal mechanisms of associative retrieval.…”

Eating Disorders as New Forms of Addiction

“…Food intake is clearly influenced by metabolic activity in hypothalamic and extracerebral areas, including sensitivity of the hypothalamus to specific molecules, stomach mouvements or blood glucose levels [5], and organoleptic characteristics of some kinds of food (as for example, chocolate) seem to be element linked to the decisión to seek out for food and to start eating. Finally, from a cognitive framework, the so-called "elaborated intrusion theory" has postulated the existence of two main cognitive components in food craving: the emergence of intrusive thoughts about the craved substance via an associative process, and the emergence of supporting mental images via an elaborative process [6].…”