Using scene proximity judgments to study food-specific recognition ability

The visual recognition of food depends on both domain-general and domain-specific visual mechanisms. Food-recognition ability negatively correlates with food neophobia (the tendency to avoid novel foods), possibly because the avoidance of novel food may limit perceptual experience that supports food recognition abilities. In prior work this relationship remained when domain-general object shape recognition ability (o) was controlled for, suggesting that this relationship is specific to food recognition. However, it is possible that other general recognition abilities, such as those for color and texture information, could also play a role. To test this, we developed outdoor scene-recognition tests. Like images of prepared food, outdoor scenes are rich in color and texture information. In 204 participants, we replicated previous findings that food-recognition tasks remain correlated after controlling for o. We additionally found that these correlations remain when scene-recognition ability is controlled for, strengthening evidence for a food-specific visual ability. The negative relationship between food-recognition ability and food neophobia also persisted after controlling for both o and scene-recognition ability, supporting the idea that this relationship reflects food-specific processes. These results indicate that food-specific processing goes beyond general visual abilities that apply to shape, color, and texture. The relationship with food neophobia supports a connection between perceptual expertise for food and affective responses to food that could inform interventions for individuals with restricted eating patterns.