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Dieting and working memory: Preoccupying cognitions and the role of the articulatory control process
Author(s) -
Shaw Jacqueline,
Tiggemann Marika
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
british journal of health psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.05
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 2044-8287
pISSN - 1359-107X
DOI - 10.1348/135910704773891032
Subject(s) - dieting , cognition , psychology , working memory , developmental psychology , weight control , cognitive psychology , weight loss , medicine , obesity , neuroscience
Objectives: The study aimed to extend previous research that has demonstrated impaired cognitive function among dieters, by teasing out precisely which components of the phonological loop subsystem of working memory are affected by dieting. Method: Participants were 92 female undergraduate students divided into three groups; current dieters ( n = 19), past dieters ( n = 29) and never dieters ( n = 44). They completed cognitive performance tasks designed to preferentially load on the phonological store and articulatory control process components of the phonological loop, as well as self‐report measures. Results: Current dieting to lose weight had no effect on the phonological store, as evidenced by the lack of effect on the phonological similarity effect. Dieting did, however, impede the articulatory control process, as evidenced by substantial reduction in the world length effect. This effect was partially mediated by preoccupying cognitions concerning food, weight and body shape. Further, the results mirrored those found with non‐dieters under conditions of articulatory suppression. Conclusions: The results clearly identify the articulatory control process as the site of the cognitive impairment suffered by dieters, and thereby offer very strong support to the preoccupying cognitions concerning food, weight and body shape that accompany dieting behaviour as the underlying mechanism.