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Encyclopedia of Nutritional Psychology

Pavlovian-Instrumental Transfer (PIT)

Evidence-informed definition Updated June 23, 2025 How to cite this entry

PIT describes how conditioned cues (learned through Pavlovian associations) influence decision-making and motivation in goal-directed actions. In the context of eating, a food-related cue (e.g., a logo or sound) can increase the likelihood of choosing or working for that food, even if it’s not currently needed or desired.

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Written by The Center for Nutritional Psychology
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The Center for Nutritional Psychology. (2025). Pavlovian-Instrumental Transfer (PIT). In Encyclopedia of Nutritional Psychology. The Center for Nutritional Psychology.

https://www.nutritional-psychology.org/encyclopedia/pavlovian-instrumental-transfer-pit/
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