Perceptual and conceptual generalization of learned food cue reactivity

Across both studies, participants successfully acquired differential food cue reactivity, showing greater expectancy, desire, and liking in response to the CS+ than the CS-. These conditioned responses generalized to both perceptually and conceptually related stimuli, although responses to generalization stimuli were weaker than to the original CSs. Individual differences in disordered eating, food craving, food responsiveness, emotional eating, and food addiction were consistently associated with stronger acquisition of conditioned responses, particularly for affective measures, but showed limited and inconsistent associations with the extent of stimulus generalization.

These findings demonstrate that learned food cue reactivity extends beyond directly conditioned stimuli through perceptual and conceptual similarity. Generalization may therefore substantially increase the range of environmental cues capable of eliciting appetitive responding, highlighting an important learning mechanism through which modern food environments promote cue-driven eating.