Effects of Attentional Focus on Subjective Hunger Ratings

Food-deprived and non-deprived non-dieters rated their hunger and fullness during a <<<>>> period and then during three counterbalanced video presentations-a control video, a video featuring palatable food cues and an absorbing non-food video. The food-cue video increased hunger ratings for both deprived and non-deprived participants. The absorbing non-food video decreased hunger for deprived (but not for non-deprived) participants. Changes in fullness ratings were not simply the complement of changes in hunger ratings. The discussion focuses on the cognitive mediators of hunger perception.