Speculating on the scientifically proven memory unreliability, the memory specialist Elizabeth Loftus, a professor of psychology at the University of California at Irvine thought of using the technique of false memory induction as a new approach to dieting. And this is how: by inducing false memories about specific foods.
It was proven by scientific studies that under the right circumstances, false memories can be easily ingrafted in some people. Amazing results were obtained from performing such tests and studies on this topic: successfully instilling false memories from plausible false childhood memories (which are easy to instill) and imagination inflation to impossible memories (such as pretense memories from the first year of life - it is known that such memories are impossible from the strictly physiological point of view, because of the insufficient maturation of the hippocampus, which plays a key role in the creation of retrievable memories).
On a study made on a group of students on food preferences, they ranked a range of foods on a scale of one to five. In a second phase the students were shown a presumptive childhood food profile which had been made-up containing false memories of bad experiences during childhood when eating dill pickles or hard-boiled eggs. Ulterior questionning of students on their food memories revealed that 25 percent in the pickle group and 31 percent in the hard-boiled eggs group thought that they had indeed gotten sick from the food as children.
However, most of the subjects didn't fall for the fake memories.
So, a first weak part in applying this technique is thus revealed: only a certain category of people is more susceptible for adopting suggestioned memories as their own. These persons share specific traits such as lapses in memory and attention. Also, people who are adept at visual imagery may be prone to suggestion.
The second soft spot of this theory is that there are limits to influencing eating habits, it cannot be applied for every food. For example, it was proven on a previous study that although suggestioned against potato chips consumption, people could not be convinced to avoid this food. A possible explanation would be the fact that they had plenty of experience with the food.
On the other hand, false memories induction can help influencing not only avoidance of certain foods but also healthy food choices.
Another potential problem that could be generated when applying this "therapy" might be the total exclusion of the targeted food or even food group from one's diet, which cannot be totally convenient.
This ground is still experimental, the theory is being subjected to further study and is still too preliminary to clearly indicate how it might be applied into dieting.
Thinking that memories can be erased or instilled at one's will (usually a psychiatrist's will) generates a great deal of inquietude for many of us. Well, however much the False Memories Syndrome might be a trouble generator, its adjustment for dietary needs would be a very convenient solution for solving some unwanted cravings and a very good helper or even replacement to will training.
Laura Ciocan writes for http://www.dietsindex.com where you can find more information about http://www.dietsindex.com.
Please feel free to use this article in your Newsletter or on your website. If you use this article, please include the resource box and send a brief message to let me know where it appeared; mailto:lauracio@gmail.com.
best cleaning company Highland Park ...Dumping syndrome is an effective result of the gastric bypass... Read More
Well we're at it again, trying to honor our promise... Read More
Do you want to lose weight fast? While there is... Read More
Green Tea Also Has Anticancer PropertiesGreen tea, which has been... Read More
Diet is one of the most controversial subjects around. Bring... Read More
In many cases conventional dieting wisdom simply doesn't work for... Read More
We all know that weight loss is important. We know... Read More
Resistance training, also known as strength training, does not require... Read More
When you are faced with the daily challenge of trying... Read More
To say that dieting rarely leads to sustainable weight loss... Read More
What a great world we live in. You want something,... Read More
Today you have a good chance of getting diabetes or... Read More
Many people think obesity means that a person is overweight,... Read More
With summer completed and school back in session, it'll be... Read More
Any food that we take into our bodies is composed... Read More
Ah the ever present battle to lose those unwanted pounds.... Read More
Telling yourself you have to "struggle with this weight issue... Read More
I am embarrassed to admit how many different commercial weight... Read More
How's the practicing going? Are you spending time each day... Read More
The story broke in the international press on October 4th,... Read More
Some Say I'm Strange. I Prefer to Think of Myself... Read More
If you are fighting the battle of the bulge (overweight... Read More
If you find this article helpful, please forward it to... Read More
Getting enough of the good fats will help you lose... Read More
First of all we need to find out a reason... Read More
deep house cleaning Des Plaines ...The Order of Energy UtilizationBack to our table of stored... Read More
The Sour Truth -------------------------- Question: I had a baby 6... Read More
There are currently over 100 billion dollars sold in weight-loss... Read More
One of the biggest misconceptions about exercise is that there... Read More
Body temperature is the result of your body generating and... Read More
At the University of Illinois, a new research found that... Read More
Can You Lose Weight Where You Want?If you have excess... Read More
Weight loss is one of the biggest industries in the... Read More
Lets face it, most of us live pretty busy lives... Read More
If you're trying lose weight, maintain your weight, or sculpt... Read More
Compulsive eating is characterized mainly by periods of impulsive bingeing... Read More
Many Americans include health improvement in their New Year's Resolutions.... Read More
"I never saw it coming, how did I get so... Read More
Are you feeling down and out? Do you feel even... Read More
A state of emergency has been recently put on European... Read More
Not everyone can handle hot food. But who said cayenne... Read More
First off, let me start by saying this list is... Read More
Franchised Business Models and American Diets could be at odds.... Read More
If you're like most people who tried losing weight on... Read More
Is Zone Diet a Fad?How do you recognize a fad... Read More
Are you considering a low carb diet? If so you... Read More
All Diets Are Based on the Same Premise: Eat Less... Read More
All of us that have had a love-hate relationship with... Read More
For many years, the experts, including our government have been... Read More
Are you a hopeless carbohydrate addict? Let's conquer these cravings... Read More
Weight Loss |