Consumption Simulations Induce Salivation to Food Cues

Abstract

Salivation to food cues is typically explained in terms of mere stimulus-response links. However, food cues seem to especially increase salivation when food is attractive, suggesting a more complex psychological process. Adopting a grounded cognition perspective, we suggest that perceiving a food triggers simulations of consuming it, especially when attractive. These simulations then induce salivation, which effectively prepares the body for eating the food. In two experiments, we systematically examined the role of simulations on salivation to food cues. As stimuli, both experiments used an attractive, a neutral, and a sour food, as well as a non-food control object. In Experiment 1, participants were instructed to simulate eating every object they would be exposed to. We then exposed them to each object separately. Salivation was assessed by having participants spit their saliva into a cup after one minute of exposure. In Experiment 2, we instructed half of participants to simulate eating each object, and half to merely look at them, while measuring salivation as in Experiment 1. Afterwards, participants rated their simulations and desire to eat for each object separately. As predicted, foods increased salivation compared to the non-food control object, especially when they were attractive or sour (Exp. 1 and 2). Importantly, attractive and sour foods especially increased salivation when instructed to simulate (Exp. 2). These findings suggest that consumption simulations play an important role in inducing salivary responses to food cues. We discuss directions for future research as well as the role of simulations for other appetitive processes.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1. Overview of our grounded cognition account of salivation to food cues.

Fig 2. Overview of the procedure of Experiment 1.

Fig 3. Salivation in response to stimulus exposure and simulating its consumption in Experiment 1.

Different letters indicate significant differences between objects, p < .05. Error bars represent standard errors from the mean.

Fig 4. Overview of the procedure of Experiment 2.

Fig 5. Ratings of consumption simulations by object type and condition in Experiment 2.

Different letters indicate significant differences between objects within a condition, p < .05. Asterisks indicate significant differences between conditions for an object, p < .05. Error bars represent standard errors from the mean.

Fig 6. Salivation by object type and condition in Experiment 2.

Different letters indicate significant differences between objects within a condition, p < .05. Asterisks indicate significant differences between conditions for an object, p < .05. Error bars represent standard errors from the mean.

Fig 7. Desire to eat by object type and condition in Experiment 2.

Different letters indicate significant differences between objects within a condition, p < .05. Asterisks indicate significant differences between conditions for an object, p < .05, and daggers indicate that p < .10. Error bars represent standard errors from the mean.