3.2.4. Fat detection thresholds and the reinforcing value of food
Fat detection threshold was a significant predictor of breakpoint (β= 6.73; p= .017). Higher fat detection thresholds (indicating low sensitivity) predicted greater breakpoints for the reinforcing value of food (Fig. 3). There was a trend for swallowed fat detection thresholds to predict the reinforcing value of food as well, but this did not reach statistical significance (p= .062). Unlike sucrose thresholds, swallowed detection thresholds (mean= 6.7) were not significantly different from expectorated detection thresholds (mean= 7.46; p> 0.1) nor were any of the other predictor variables (all p> 0.3).