BEHAVIORAL OBSERVATION OF FOOD-DEPRIVED HUMANS UNDER A FOOD-DELIVERY SCHEDULE

Abstract

The objective of this study was to explore the behavior of food-deprived human subjects under a fixed-time (FI) schedule of food delivery. Three adult women following a ritual relígious fast volunteered to participate. They were individually observed through a one-way mirror after a 1 3-hour period of food-deprivation. Three 20-mm sessions in which the delivery of palatable pieces of food was manipulated were run: a massed-food session (Session 1, Day 1), a no-food session <Session 2, Day 2) and a Fr 60-s session (Session 3, Day 2). Observed response categories included ‘drinking”, ~grooming’, moving, “quiet” and ‘vocalizing’. No enhancement of drinking behavior in the FI session as compared to the other two conditions was observed. One of the subjects displayed enhanced grooming and vocalízing, although the increase was not Iocalized soon after food consumption. It is concluded that although the present study does not provide enough evidence for a schedule induced effect, it contributes an original and potentially fruitful food deprivation procedure that can be used in future human studies.