How do sensory cues like the aroma of baking bread influence eating behavior?
Answer
They can trigger an immediate desire to eat regardless of recent food intake
Sensory cues, such as appealing aromas or visual displays of food, are powerful external influences that strongly modulate appetite, often hijacking the homeostatic system. The anticipation generated by these cues can trigger a cephalic phase response, preparing the body for incoming calories even before consumption begins. This immediate, non-physiological drive means that the smell of baking bread can stimulate an eagerness or longing for food, even if the individual consumed a full meal recently and has no actual energy deficit requiring correction.
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