Scientists reveal that lemon-aids a better day
Neuroscientists, on behalf of Sainsbury’s, have revealed the results of a unique study into the subjective and physiological emotional responses to the nation’s top day enhancers, showing that a simple glass of lemonade elicits a greater subjective and physiological emotional response than other every day pleasures, including a text message from a loved one or bagging a bargain in the sales.
The experiment, designed to identify which ordinary experiences are most likely to make the everyday more special, used hypnosis to induce participants into a trance to heighten communication with the subconscious mind. Participants were then asked to visualise a series of everyday scenarios and scientists measured their subjective and physiological enjoyment to each situation, by recording electrodermal activity using electrodes attached to the fingers, and measuring heart rate using an electrocardiogram connected to the chest and torso.
After extensive testing, the study revealed that the top three mood-boosters are a glass of chilled lemonade, biting into a homemade, freshly baked cupcake and turning on the radio to hear the start of your all-time favourite song.
While simple lemonade may top the chart of every day enhancers, it seems a message from your loved ones does not have quite the same effect; a funny text from family or friends only just squeezed in to the top ten experiences that give us the feel good factor.
Shopaholics and impatient drivers might also be surprised to hear that bagging a bargain and finding the very the last car parking space fared even worse; discovering an item in the sale that you’ve been lusting after came in at 11th while avoiding the frustration of searching for a place to park by driving straight into the last space was bottom of the table.
Each of the three enjoyment measures (subjective ratings; electrodermal activity and heart rate) were combined to obtain an overall enjoyment ranking for each type of stimulus. The full list of situations that make every day more special are as follows:
Top 12 things that make a day more special:
1. A glass of chilled lemonade
2. Biting into a fresh, homemade cupcake
3. Hearing your all-time favourite song on the radio
4. Smelling and eating a slice of warm apple pie
5. A clear blue sky on the morning of a day trip
6. Adding a dollop of Dijon mustard to a steak
7. A comforting bowl of tomato soup
8. The traffic lights going green just as you approach
9. The smell of a sausage sandwich in the morning
10. A funny text message from your loved ones
11. Finding a coveted item has been reduced in the sale
12. Getting the last parking space in a busy street
Kirstin Knight, Sainsbury’s Head of Product Brand said: “We know that food and drink are life’s simple pleasures but this research reinforces our belief that the satisfaction associated with simple, good quality, everyday food is what really brightens up your day.
“The experiment has shown how our mind and body rates our experiences and highlighted that some of the main drivers in helping to make the everyday special are food and drink.
“At a time when customers have to make difficult decisions about their spending, our bySainsbury’s products give consumers thousands of affordable, different ways of getting that perfect pick me up!