Effect of Ambient Noise on the Responses to Meal Ingestion

Meal ingestion induces sensations that are influenced by a series of conditioning factors. Aim: to determine the effect of ambient noise on the sensory responses to a standard probe meal. Randomized, cross-over study in healthy subjects comparing the effect of ambient noise versus silence on the sensations induced by a probe meal. Participants (12 men) will be instructed to eat a standard dinner the day before, to consume a standard breakfast at home after overnight fast, and to report to the laboratory, where the test meal will be administered 5 h after breakfast. Studies will be conducted in a quiet, isolated room with participants sitting on a chair. One study day, a noise will applied via headphones for 60 min after meal ingestion and the other day headphones without sound will applied. Perception of homeostatic sensations (hunger/ satiation, fullness) and hedonic sensations (digestive well-being, mood) will be measured at 5 min intervals 10 min before and 20 min after ingestion and at 10 min intervals up to 60 min after the probe meal.