Research suggests that the rewarding value of food plays a significant role in increasing desire to consume more high-caloric foods. This study will test if neural indices (as measured by ERPs) of food-related reward anticipation, receipt, and loss relate to food intake and differ from other salient rewards, specifically money and positive feedback.175 participants will be recruited to participate in our study. The participants will complete three reward-based computer tasks where they get the chance to earn a favorite food, money, or receive positive feedback. The tasks will be completed in a counterbalanced fashion while ERP data is collected. Participants will be given a choice- if they choose correctly, they get the reward; if incorrectly, they lose a part of their earnings. The participants will be told the goal is to find the pattern that will maximize their reward, but feedback will be randomly assigned to 50% reward and 50% loss trials. Participants will then record their daily food intake using the online Automated Self-Administered 24-hour Dietary Recall (ASA24) for three randomly selected days for the upcoming week. Reward anticipation will be analyzed using a 3-Task (Neutral, Money, Food) ANOVA on SPN amplitude. Reward receipt and loss will be analyzed using a 3-Task (Neutral, Money, Food) by 2-Outcome (Gain, Loss) ANOVA on RewP amplitude. Finally, two multiple linear regressions will be conducted using age, weight, gender, and the SPN or RewP amplitude during the food task to predict average caloric intake from the ASA24 recalls.

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is estimated to have fed 30.4 million children in 2016. With the passing of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) of 2010, the NSLP took the initiative to combat obesity rates in children. As of 2018, the USDA has reversed and weakened many school meal standards set by the HHFKA of 2010 following concerns of decreased student participation rates. Completion of a literature review demonstrated no student participation decrease resulting from strengthened nutrition standards. This study investigates the impacts of recent school nutrition policy changes from two perspectives: school nutrition staff and recent high school graduates. Qualitative interviews will be conducted with school nutrition staff with the purpose to investigate (i) the goals of their program, (ii) methods used to encourage consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, (iii) extent of collaboration between staff and students/parents, and (iii) any challenges faced. In addition, a survey will be implemented with the goal to assess school food environments from the perspective of former high school students. The survey will aim to investigate (i) methods school nutrition programs utilize to increase consumption of nutritious foods, (ii) extent of collaboration between schools and students, and (iii) suggestions students may have to improve their school food environment. The aim of this study is to evaluate school nutrition programs to develop and implement strategies that improve the consumption of healthier school meals. By doing so, the study will contribute to the promotion of children’s health by changing school environments.

Past research in the health and fitness industry has shown that in order to increase one's life span, exercise is vital to maintain health and increase quality of life. However, despite increases in longevity and productivity into older age, older adults are stigmatized and portrayed in a negative light causing them to experience discrimination and ageism. Therefore, it is important to understand how contextual priming impacts perception and implicit ageism among people in late adulthood. It is also important to understand how older adults perceive themselves and if implicit ageism exists within their own population. Lastly, it is beneficial to understand gender differences present within the fitness industry and how they could affect older individuals. In this study, participants will be recruited through several locations in the Ventura and Los Angeles areas. Participants will also be recruited through social media platforms including Facebook and Instagram. In addition, a sample of traditional undergraduate students will also be recruited through the California Lutheran University SONA system for the undergraduate psychology department. After providing their informed consent, participants will be randomly assigned to one of four contextual priming conditions: positive male, positive female, negative male, negative female. Participants will complete a variety of questionnaires addressing ageism, open-ended questions, as well as demographic information. The study will use a between-subjects two-way ANOVA to compare the effects of contextual priming and gender on implicit ageism. Data is currently being collected on older adults.