Effects of negative mood state on event-related potentials of restrained eating subgroups during an inhibitory control task

Abstract

Negative mood states are hypothesized to increase the risk for overeating among restrained eaters. However, neurophysiological features of inhibitory control during negative mood states among restrained eaters are poorly understood. To address this gap, we aimed to assess event related potentials (ERPs) associated with food-specific inhibitory control among successful restrained eaters (SREs, n = 17), unsuccessful restrained eaters (UREs, n = 18), and non-restrained eaters (NREs, n = 18) engaged in a food-related go/no-go task during negative versus neutral mood states. Compared to neutral mood states, negative mood states were related to comparatively greater no-go N2a amplitudes in the entire sample. Regarding group differences, no-go N2a amplitudes of SREs were greater than those of UREs across negative and neutral mood states. However, no-go P3 amplitudes of SREs decreased significantly during the negative mood state while no change was observed for other groups. Results suggest that negative mood states may interfere with conflict monitoring and behavioral inhibition in general, but inhibitory control over food may be enhanced among SREs during negative mood states relative to UREs. Results may provide psychophysiological bases for understanding why SREs succeed and UREs fail in controlling appetitive responses to external food cues.