The sweet taste of success: the presence of glucose in the oral cavity moderates the depletion of self-control resources

Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2013 Jan;39(1):28-42. doi: 10.1177/0146167212459912. Epub 2012 Sep 20.

Abstract

According to the resource-depletion model, self-control is a limited resource that is depleted after a period of exertion. Evidence consistent with this model indicates that self-control relies on glucose metabolism and glucose supplementation to depleted individuals replenishes self-control resources. In five experiments, we tested an alternative hypothesis that glucose in the oral cavity counteracts the deleterious effects of self-control depletion. We predicted a glucose mouth rinse, as opposed to an artificially sweetened placebo rinse, would lead to better self-control after depletion. In Studies 1 to 3, participants engaging in a depleting task performed significantly better on a subsequent self-control task after receiving a glucose mouth rinse, as opposed to participants rinsing with a placebo. Studies 4 and 5 replicated these findings and demonstrated that the glucose mouth rinse had no effect on self-control in nondepleted participants. Results are consistent with a neural rather than metabolic mechanism for the effect of glucose supplementation on self-control.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Achievement*
  • Attention
  • Exercise / physiology
  • Exercise Test / drug effects
  • Female
  • Glucose / administration & dosage
  • Humans
  • Impulsive Behavior*
  • Internal-External Control*
  • Male
  • Models, Psychological
  • Mouth
  • Mouthwashes*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Self Concept*
  • Social Control, Informal*
  • Sweetening Agents / administration & dosage
  • Task Performance and Analysis
  • Taste / physiology*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Mouthwashes
  • Sweetening Agents
  • Glucose