Chris J. Burgin

The Gargle Effect Rinsing the Mouth With Glucose Enhances Self-Control

It has become increasingly clear that engaging in self-control on one task can impair self-control on a subsequent task (Baumeister, Bratslavsky, Muraven, & Tice, 1998; Hagger, Wood, Stiff, & Chatzisarantis, 2010). What is less clear is why this impairment occurs. One explanation holds that people have a limited amount of energy at their disposal for behavior control and that acts of self-control consume this energy (e.g., Muraven & Baumeister, 2000). Thus, performing one act of self-control can reduce the energy people have available for subsequent acts of self-control. Gailliot et al. (2007) extended this model by suggesting that the source of self-control energy is glucose. In their study, participants exercised self-control, drank lemonade sweetened with either glucose or a nonglucose sweetener, waited 15 min (for the glucose to reach the brain), and then engaged in a self-control task. The researchers found the usual self-control impairment among participants who drank the nonglucose sweetener, but not among participants who drank glucose. They concluded that drinking glucose increases the energy available to control the self. This conclusion has since been challenged in two ways. First, Kurzban (2010) explored the data of Gailliot et al. (2007) and found that only some participants demonstrated the expected drop in glucose level following self-control; in fact, some actually showed an increase. Overall, there was no relation between changes in glucose level and level of self-control in the data. Second, Molden et al. (2012) found that glucose can enhance self-control even when it is not ingested. They had participants engage in a self-control task, rinse their mouths with glucose or a nonglucose sweetener (without swallowing), and then engage in a second self-control task. Rinsing with glucose eliminated the self-control impairment even though it did not increase the amount of glucose in the participants’ blood. This pattern is consistent with research showing that rinsing with glucose activates receptors in the mouth that, in turn, activate motivational areas in the brain (J. M. Carter, Jeukendrup, & Jones, 2004; Gant, Stinear, & Byblow, 2010). Orally rinsing with glucose, for instance, can improve the performance of bicyclists and may do so by signaling reward areas in the brain (Chambers, Bridge, & Jones, 2009). Given that cases have been made for both metabolic and motivational roles for glucose in self-control, we conducted an experiment to help clarify the issue—a conceptual replication of Molden et al. (2012). Such replications are vital to establishing the reliability of research findings (Simmons, Nelson, & Simonsohn, 2011).

Music to the Inner Ears: Exploring Individual Differences in Musical Imagery

In two studies, we explored the frequency and phenomenology of musical imagery. Study 1 used retrospective reports of musical imagery to assess the contribution of individual differences to imagery characteristics. Study 2 used an experience sampling design to assess the phenomenology of musical imagery over the course of one week in a sample of musicians and non-musicians. Both studies found episodes of musical imagery to be common and positive: people rarely wanted such experiences to end and often heard music that was personally meaningful. Several variables predicted musical imagery, including personality, musical preferences, and positive mood. Musicians tended to hear musical imagery more often, but they reported less frequent episodes of deliberately-generated imagery. Taken together, the present research provides new insights into individual differences in musical imagery, and it supports the emerging view that such experiences are common, positive, and more voluntary than previously recognized.

Palm or Cell? Comparing Personal Digital Assistants and Cell Phones for Experience Sampling Research

Personal digital assistants (PDA), particularly Palm Pilots, are popular data collection devices in experience sampling research. The declining availability of such devices, however, has prompted researchers to explore alternative technologies for signaling participants and collecting responses. The present research considers interactive voice response (IVR) methods, which can deliver questions and collect data using common cell phones. Participants completed an experience sampling study using either a PDA (n = 428) or a cell phone under three different conditions (IVR condition n = 98; IVR Callback condition n = 93; IVR Callback Comeback condition n = 94). We found that response rates were higher when people used PDAs (69%) than when they used their cell phones (IVR condition = 51%), but response rates increased when people could call back within a few minutes of missing a signal (IVR Callback condition = 58%) and had a face-to-face meeting with a researcher midweek (IVR Callback Comeback = 64%). The daily life ratings were similar across the conditions. The findings are encouraging for researchers interested in using IVR cell phone methods for ecological momentary assessment, but more work is needed to develop procedures or incentives that increase response rates.

Individual differences in hedonic experience: Further evidence for the construct validity of the ACIPS

We conducted three investigations to examine the convergent and discriminant validity of the Anticipatory and Consummatory Interpersonal Pleasure Scale (ACIPS; Gooding and Pflum, Psychiatry Research, 2014). In Study One, we used Mechanical Turk to individually administer the ACIPS to a diverse group of community adults aged 25-69. Reports of greater social/interpersonal pleasure was associated with greater sense of interpersonal connectedness with others, higher need to belong, and less likelihood of reporting anxiety during social interactions. In Studies Two and Three, participants were tested in group settings. Studies with undergraduate participants indicated that ACIPS scores are associated with measures of prosocial interactions and sociability as well as measures of anhedonia. Despite differences in testing conditions (i.e., online vs. paper administration) and heterogeneity in the samples in terms of educational level, geographical location, and age, the ACIPS demonstrated good convergent and discriminant validity. Taken together, these studies add to the increasing body of evidence for the construct validity of the ACIPS.

Psychological Factors in Community College Student Retention.

This study explored psychological factors in the context of a community college population purported to impact decisions to remain in college from one semester to another. Researchers examined results from 1191 responses from students attending a community college in the Mid-Atlantic United States. The study further explored the predictive power of four factors—career decision self-efficacy, career locus of control, education-employment connection, and intent to return—on both intent to return and on actual return to the college. Results indicated that intent to return was significantly predictive of actual return among this community college population. Additionally, age and gender differences, along with differences in the various psychological factors had differential impacts on each other, as well as on intent to return and subsequent return. Implications are discussed.

Reports of Therapy Skill Use and Their Efficacy in Daily Life in the Short-Term Treatment of Depression

Previous studies have shown that the use of therapy skills in between sessions is an important mechanism of symptom improvement. The current study expands this line of research by using a diary approach to examine the use of therapy skills in daily life. A sample of 39 depressed adults (85% female, mean age 38) were signaled twice per week throughout the course of either cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or self-system therapy (SST). Results showed that, on days when participants reported greater use of therapy skills, they reported better mood and functioning in almost all domains. Additionally, participants in CBT reported greater use of cognitive skills while participants in SST reported greater use of self-regulatory skills. This study demonstrates that repeated assessments of daily events and experiences, which prevent retrospective reporting biases, further confirm the importance of therapy skill use as a mechanism of action in psychotherapy.

Validity of the Multidimensional Schizotypy Scale: Associations with schizotypal traits and normal personality.

The present study provided the first examination of the construct validity of the Multidimensional Schizotypy Scale (MSS) and the first assessment of its psychometric properties outside of its derivation samples. The MSS contains 77 items that assess positive, negative, and disorganized schizotypy. A large multisite sample of 1,430 participants completed the MSS and measures of schizotypal personality traits and the five-factor model of personality. The MSS subscales had good-to-excellent internal consistency reliability that showed no shrinkage relative to the MSS derivation samples. The psychometric properties and intercorrelations of the MSS subscales were closely consistent with the derivation findings. The MSS Positive Schizotypy subscale had a strong association with cognitive–perceptual schizotypal traits (large effect), positive associations with personality traits of neuroticism and openness to experience, and negative associations with agreeableness. The MSS Negative Schizotypy subscale had a strong association with interpersonal schizotypal traits (medium effect) and negative associations with personality traits of extraversion, openness, and agreeableness. The MSS Disorganized Schizotypy subscale had a strong association with disorganized schizotypal traits (medium effect), a positive association with neuroticism, and a negative association with conscientiousness. The findings were consistent with the a priori predictions and support the construct validity of the MSS.

Turn that racket down! Physical anhedonia and diminished pleasure from music

Why do some people not enjoy listening to music as much as others? Two studies explored whether people high in physical anhedonia—an aspect of schizotypy that is associated with reduced pleasure from physical stimuli—are less engaged in the musical world than other people. Study 1 examined individual differences in music engagement and experience. People with higher levels of physical anhedonia reported valuing music less, experiencing fewer aesthetic emotions in response to music, liking fewer genres of music, and having less music experience. Study 2 used experience sampling to examine how individual differences in physical anhedonia predicted music engagement, music listening habits, and the aesthetic experiences of music in everyday life. During a typical week, people with higher levels of physical anhedonia spent less time listening to music. Taken together, these results suggest that as physical anhedonia increases, people become increasingly detached from and disinterested in music.

Individual Differences in Expectancies for Change in Depression: Associations with Goal Pursuit and Daily Experiences

More optimistic expectations for change in patients entering treatment often predict more favorable outcomes. However, our understanding of the nature and function of those expectancies is limited. The current study tested the proposal that optimistic expectancies among patients seeking outpatient psychotherapy for major depressive disorder may be explained in part by having a more adaptive self-regulatory style. A sample of 56 adults (78.6% female; mean age 36.5) completed measures of expectancies, depressive symptoms, and aspects of self-regulation. Participants also completed a week of experience sampling using a cell phone system that signaled them 8 random times per day for 7 days. Results were largely consistent with hypotheses. Depressed participants with more optimistic expectancies had a stronger promotion goal orientation, higher goal re-engagement, and reported greater progress on their most important personal goals; daily positive affect and positive situational appraisals were also higher. Findings may suggest a possible self-regulatory mechanism underlying optimistic expectancies for change.