The DOI matches its Crossref record; 11 of the 11 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Images of desire: cognitive models of craving.
Abstract
Cognitive modelling of phenomena in clinical practice allows the operationalization of otherwise diffuse descriptive terms such as craving or flashbacks. This supports the empirical investigation of the clinical phenomena and the development of targeted treatment interventions. This paper focuses on the cognitive processes underpinning craving, which is recognised as a motivating experience in substance dependence. We use a high-level cognitive architecture, Interacting Cognitive Subsystems (ICS), to compare two theories of craving: Tiffany's theory, centred on the control of automated action schemata, and our own Elaborated Intrusion theory of craving. Data from a questionnaire study of the subjective aspects of everyday desires experienced by a large non-clinical population are presented. Both the data and the high-level modelling support the central claim of the Elaborated Intrusion theory that imagery is a key element of craving, providing the subjective experience and mediating much of the associated disruption of concurrent cognition.
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“Humans don’t necessarily require physical reward cues – vivid imagery about the reward may be enough to trigger limbic brain activations of incentive salience in people that would require cues in animals (May et al., 2004; Kochel et al., 2011; Jauregui-Lobera et al., 2012; Miyapuram et al., 2012).”
From Evolving Concepts of Emotion and Motivation (2018) · cites this paper as May et al., 2004
Citations
Cites
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O’Malley, S. S. (1996) · Archives of General Psychiatry · doi:10.1001/archpsyc.1996.01830030039007 · Cited by 280
Monti, P. M., Rohsenow, D. J., Swift, R. M., Gulliver, S. B., Colby, S. M., Mueller, T. I., Brown, R. A., Gordon, A. A., Abrams, D. B., NIAURA, R. S., et al. (2001) · Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research · doi:10.1111/j.1530-0277.2001.tb02170.x · Cited by 233
Naltrexone's Effect on Cue‐Elicited Craving Among Alcoholics in Treatment
Monti, P. M., Rohsenow, D. J., Hutchison, K. E., Swift, R. M., Mueller, T. I., Colby, S. M., Brown, R. A., Gulliver, S. B., Gordon, A. A., & Abrams, D. B. (1999) · Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research · doi:10.1111/j.1530-0277.1999.tb04361.x · Cited by 188
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Murray, S. (2008) · OhioLink ETD Center (Ohio Library and Information Network)
An investigation on the effects of a visuospatial imagery task on smoking related craving
Flatau, M. C. (2024) · PEARL (University of Plymouth) · doi:10.24382/gpd5-er20
The experience and perception of concurrent versus retrospective chocolate cravings
Taylor, H. (2024) · PEARL (University of Plymouth) · doi:10.24382/ja93-br62
Parham, S. C. (2017) · Queensland University of Technology · doi:10.5204/thesis.eprints.106919
공지은, 구해경, & HyunMyoungHo (2017) · Korean Journal of Health Psychology · doi:10.17315/kjhp.2017.22.3.007
Social Robots as Therapists: Preliminary Tests of Feasibility
Robinson, N. (2018) · Queensland University of Technology · doi:10.5204/thesis.eprints.119160
An Embodied Simulation Model of Irrational Beliefs: Embodied Irrational Beliefs
Tiba, A. (2020) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-53989-4_6
(2018) · Mardaga eBooks · doi:10.3917/mard.picte.2018.01.0211
BSc, M. L. M., Maslin, J., Meynen, T., Hons, D. C. P. T. M. B., BSc, M. R. H., & BSc, D. C. P. S. W. (2010) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9780470661420.refs
The role of suicidal mental imagery and experiential avoidance in suicidality: an exploratory study
Maynard, H., Gregory, J. D., Davies, A., & Fox, J. R. E. (2025) · Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy · doi:10.1017/s1352465825000037 · Cited by 1
Garcia, S. C. (2023) · Scholars Archive - University at Albany (University at Albany, State University of New York) · doi:10.54014/hdak-78p1
Development and validation of the Obsessive Compulsive Eating Scale
Niemiec, M. A. (2016) · doi:10.54014/8jnb-09hj
The cognitive and contextual underpinnings of food cravings : a multi-method exploration
Niemiec, M. A. (2019) · Scholars Archive - University at Albany (University at Albany, State University of New York) · doi:10.54014/4vq6-13dp
Wood, A. M. L., Beurmanjer, H., Schellekens, A., & Dijkstra, B. A. G. (2025) · Substance Use & Misuse · doi:10.1080/10826084.2025.2586741
How chatbot eating-action language shapes food purchase responses?
Chen, J., Li, G., Chen, J., Wang, S., & Ke, W. (2026) · Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services · doi:10.1016/j.jretconser.2026.105056
Metadata
- Authors
- May, J., Andrade, J., Panabokke, N., & Kavanagh, D.
- Affiliations
- University of Sheffield (GB)
- The University of Queensland (AU)
- Venue
- Memory
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2004-07
- Volume
- 12
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 447-461
- ISSN
- 0965-8211 (ISSN-L)
- 1464-0686
- OpenAlex
- W2050556494
- Cited by
- 222
- References
- 11
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 18
- FWCI
- 5.99
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Memory (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Behavioral Health and Interventions
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
- Keywords
- craving, substance dependence, mental imagery, intrusive thoughts, cognitive architecture
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Alcohol Drinking, Beverages, Cognition, Cues, Emotions, Female, Food, Humans, Imagination, Male, Memory, Middle Aged, Models, Psychological, Motivation, Surveys and Questionnaires, Smoking, Substance-Related Disorders
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