From lab to clinic: Extinction of cued cravings to reduce overeating

Anita Jansen*, Ghislaine Schyns, Peggy Bongers, Karolien van den Akker

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

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Abstract

Food cue reactivity is a strong motivation to eat, even in the absence of hunger. Therefore, food cue reactivity might sabotage healthy eating, induce weight gain and impede weight loss or weight maintenance. Food cue reactivity can be learned via Pavlovian appetitive conditioning: It is easily acquired but the extinction of appetitive responding seems to be more challenging. Several properties of extinction make it fragile: extinction does not erase the original learning and extinction is context-dependent. These properties threaten full extinction and increase the risk of full relapse. Extinction procedures are discussed to reduce or prevent the occurrence of rapid reacquisition, spontaneous recovery, renewal and reinstatement after extinction. A translation to food cue exposure treatment is made and suggestions are provided, such as conducting the exposure in relevant contexts, using occasional reinforcement and targeting expectancy violation instead of habituation. A new hypothesis proposed here is that the adding of inhibition training to strengthen inhibition skills that reduce instrumental responding, might be beneficial to improve food cue exposure effects.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)174-180
Number of pages7
JournalPhysiology & Behavior
Volume162
Early online date17 Mar 2016
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Aug 2016

Keywords

  • Appetitive conditioning
  • Craving
  • Overeating
  • Extinction
  • Cue exposure
  • Inhibition
  • CONTROLLED-TRIAL
  • FOOD-INTAKE
  • INSULIN-SECRETION
  • WEIGHT-LOSS
  • BULIMIA-NERVOSA
  • EXPOSURE THERAPY
  • MEAL INITIATION
  • TRAINING RESPONSE-INHIBITION
  • CEPHALIC PHASE RESPONSES
  • DRINKING BEHAVIOR

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