Memorable meals: The memory-experience gap in day-to-day experiences

PLoS One. 2021 Mar 30;16(3):e0249190. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249190. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Research shows that retrospective memory is often more extreme than in-the-moment experiences. While investigations into this phenomenon have mostly focused on distinct, one-time experiences, we examined it with respect to recurring day-to-day experiences in the eating domain, focusing on variables of the snapshot model-i.e., the most intense and the final experience. We used a smartphone-based Ecological Momentary Assessment to assess the food intake and eating happiness of 103 participants (82.52% female, Mage = 21.97 years) over eight days, and then calculated their best (positive peak), worst (negative peak) and final experiences. Remembered eating happiness was assessed immediately after the study (immediate recall) and after four weeks (delayed recall). A significant memory-experience gap was revealed at immediate recall (d = .53). Remembered eating happiness was predicted by the worst eating experience (β = .41, p < .001), but not by the best or final eating experience. Analyzing changes over time did not show a significant memory-experience gap at delayed recall, but did reveal a similar influence of the worst eating experience (β = .39, p < .001). Findings indicate that, in the domain of eating, retrospective memory is mainly influenced by negative experiences. Overall, the results indicate that the snapshot model is a valid conceptualization to explain recall of both outstanding and day-to-day experiences.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Eating / physiology
  • Eating / psychology
  • Ecological Momentary Assessment
  • Feeding Behavior / physiology
  • Feeding Behavior / psychology
  • Female
  • Happiness*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Meals* / psychology
  • Memory, Episodic
  • Mental Recall* / physiology
  • Smartphone
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research within the SMARTACT research project (BMBF Grant 01EL1820A) granted to BR & HS. The funding source had no involvement in the study´s design, the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data, the writing of the report, or the decision to submit this article for publication.