Exploring the Influence of Sensory Cues on Eating Behavior Using Virtual Reality

Description

Many factors influence eating choices among humans (mood, taste, convenience, time of day, etc.). Finding simple ways to decrease food intake or improve food choices could improve weight status and overall health of the general population. The purpose of this study is to see if city and/or nature smells affect human eating behavior within a virtual reality-simulated outdoor café. The researchers of this study believe that a better understanding of how smells affect eating behavior could lead to public guidelines that direct the construction and layout of such outdoor eating environments to better support healthy behaviors.

Conditions

Healthy

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Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

Many factors influence eating choices among humans (mood, taste, convenience, time of day, etc.). Finding simple ways to decrease food intake or improve food choices could improve weight status and overall health of the general population. The purpose of this study is to see if city and/or nature smells affect human eating behavior within a virtual reality-simulated outdoor café. The researchers of this study believe that a better understanding of how smells affect eating behavior could lead to public guidelines that direct the construction and layout of such outdoor eating environments to better support healthy behaviors.

Dining Out in NYC: Using VR to Investigate the Influence of Multisensory Urban Design Factors on Eating Behavior in Emerging Adults

Exploring the Influence of Sensory Cues on Eating Behavior Using Virtual Reality

Condition
Healthy
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

State College

Health, Ingestive Behavior, and Technology Laboratory of Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, United States, 16802

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Between the ages of 18-29
  • * Fluent in English
  • * Free of self-reported food allergies/food sensitivities
  • * No diagnosis of cognitive or physical disabilities/disorders that may affect appetite or eating behaviors (Examples include Major Depressive Disorder, dementia, or eating disorders)
  • * No diagnosis of disabilities that may affect sensory proprioception related to virtual reality (Examples include vertigo, epilepsy, and ataxia)
  • * Not color blind
  • * Does not experience anosmia (inability or weak ability to smell)
  • * Must have hair ≥3 cm in length at the cortisol sample site (roughly midline of the skull left to right and two inches up from the base of the hairline at the neck).
  • * No hair transplant in the last 6 months
  • * Are younger than 18 or older than 29 years of age
  • * Not fluent in English
  • * Have self-reported food allergies
  • * Have a diagnosis of cognitive or physical disabilities that may affect appetite or eating behaviors (Examples include Major Depressive Disorder, dementia, or eating disorders)
  • * Have a diagnosis of disabilities that may affect sensory proprioception related to virtual reality (Examples include vertigo, epilepsy, and ataxia)
  • * Suffers from color blindness
  • * Suffers from anosmia (inability or weak ability to smell)
  • * Hair shorter than 3 cm in length at the cortisol sample site (roughly midline of the skull left to right and two inches up from the base of the hairline at the neck)
  • * Has had a hair transplant in the last 6 months

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to 29 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Collaborators and Investigators

Penn State University,

Travis Masterson, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, The Pennsylvania State University

Study Record Dates

2025-04