Abstract.
Rationale: The ability of caffeine to condition liking for flavours depends on the caffeine deprivation status of subjects; however, it is not known if a latent liking for a flavour can be acquired in an undeprived state, which subsequently emerges when consumers are caffeine deprived. Objectives: To determine if exposure of undeprived caffeine consumers to a novel drink containing caffeine leads to increased liking for this drink when they are subsequently tested when caffeine-deprived. Methods: In a double-blind placebo controlled study, four groups of 13 moderate caffeine consumers evaluated a novel flavoured drink on 5 days. The test group consumed this drink with 100 mg caffeine when undeprived on days 1-4, and in a deprived state on day 5. Three control groups had the same conditions on all 5 days, with an undeprived group receiving the caffeinated drink, and two deprived groups receiving the drink with caffeine or placebo. Results: The pleasantness of the drink did not change over the 4 training days in the test group, and did not alter when this group was tested when caffeine-deprived. At no stage did these ratings differ between the test and undeprived control groups. Pleasantness increased significantly over the 5 days in the deprived group who received caffeine, and decreased in the deprived group who received placebo. Conclusions: These results suggest that repeated pairing of a novel flavour with the effects of caffeine in subjects who are not caffeine deprived does not lead to an emergent liking for that flavour when subsequently tested caffeine-deprived. However, the pleasantness of the same caffeinated drink increased if it was consumed when caffeine deprived.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Electronic Publication
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yeomans, M.R., Ripley, T., Lee, M.D. et al. No evidence for latent learning of liking for flavours conditioned by caffeine. Psychopharmacology 157, 172–179 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002130100765
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002130100765