

| Position/s: | Academic Staff School of Psychology |
| Phone: | +61 8 82013963 |
| Email: | eva.kemps@flinders.edu.au |
| Location: | Social Sciences North (364) |
| Postal address: | GPO Box 2100, Adelaide 5001, South Australia |
B.Psych., B.Ed., M.Psych., Ph.D. (Ghent, Belgium)
My current research activities focus primarily on applications of cognitive experimental psychology in the areas of food craving and eating behaviour. In particular, these aim to investigate: (a) the role of mental imagery in the experience and reduction of food cravings, (b) the effects of nutrition, dieting and disordered eating on cognitive performance, and (c) implicit processing of environmental food and eating cues.
Rosemary Lang
Project title: The interaction between eating behaviour and physical activity on health and psychological well-being in an Australian emerging adult population: Development of health promotion strategies
Potential PhD Projects
PhD research topics available include:
(1) evaluating techniques for reducing food cravings and modifying eating behaviour,
(2) examining effects of nutrition and/or physical activity on cognition and psychological well-being
Tiggemann, M., Kemps, E.B., & Bettany, S., 2012. Non-food odorants reduce chocolate cravings. Appetite, 58, 1087-1090.
Tibboel, H., De Houwer, J., Spruyt, A., Field, M., Kemps, E.B., & Crombez, G., 2011. Testing the validity of implicit measures of wanting and liking. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 42, 284-292.
Szmalec, A., Verbruggen, F., Vandierendonck, A., & Kemps, E.B., 2011. Control of interference during working memory updating. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 37(1), 137-151.
Smeets, E., Tiggemann, M., Kemps, E.B., Mills, J.S., Hollitt, S.J., Roefs, A., & Jansen, A., 2011. Body checking induces an attentional bias for body-related cues. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 44, 50-57.
Kemps, E.B. & Wilsdon, A., 2010. Preliminary evidence for a role for impulsivity in cognitive disinhibition in bulimia nervosa. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 32(5), 515-521.
Kemps, E.B. & Tiggemann, M., 2010. A cognitive experimental approach to understanding and reducing food cravings. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 19, 86-90.
Hollitt, S.J., Kemps, E.B., Tiggemann, M., Smeets, E., & Mills, J.S., 2010. Components of attentional bias for food cues among restrained eaters. Appetite, 309-313.
Best, T.M., Kemps, E.B., & Bryan, J., 2010. Saccharide effects on cognition and well-being in middle-aged adults: a randomised controlled trial. Developmental Neuropsychology, 35(1), 66-80.
Tiggemann, M., Kemps, E.B., & Parnell, J.H., 2010. The selective impact of chocolate craving on visuospatial working memory. Appetite, 55, 44-48.
Ball, C.T., Singer, S., Kemps, E.B., & Tiggemann, M., 2010. Restrained eating and memory specificity. Appetite, 55, 359-362.
Tiggemann, M., Kemps, E.B., & Bettany, S., 2012. Non-food odorants reduce chocolate cravings. Appetite, 58, 1087-1090.
Tibboel, H., De Houwer, J., Spruyt, A., Field, M., Kemps, E.B., & Crombez, G., 2011. Testing the validity of implicit measures of wanting and liking. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 42, 284-292.
Szmalec, A., Verbruggen, F., Vandierendonck, A., & Kemps, E.B., 2011. Control of interference during working memory updating. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 37(1), 137-151.
Smeets, E., Tiggemann, M., Kemps, E.B., Mills, J.S., Hollitt, S.J., Roefs, A., & Jansen, A., 2011. Body checking induces an attentional bias for body-related cues. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 44, 50-57.
Kemps, E.B. & Wilsdon, A., 2010. Preliminary evidence for a role for impulsivity in cognitive disinhibition in bulimia nervosa. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 32(5), 515-521.
Kemps, E.B. & Tiggemann, M., 2010. A cognitive experimental approach to understanding and reducing food cravings. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 19, 86-90.
Hollitt, S.J., Kemps, E.B., Tiggemann, M., Smeets, E., & Mills, J.S., 2010. Components of attentional bias for food cues among restrained eaters. Appetite, 309-313.
Best, T.M., Kemps, E.B., & Bryan, J., 2010. Saccharide effects on cognition and well-being in middle-aged adults: a randomised controlled trial. Developmental Neuropsychology, 35(1), 66-80.
Tiggemann, M., Kemps, E.B., & Parnell, J.H., 2010. The selective impact of chocolate craving on visuospatial working memory. Appetite, 55, 44-48.
Ball, C.T., Singer, S., Kemps, E.B., & Tiggemann, M., 2010. Restrained eating and memory specificity. Appetite, 55, 359-362.
Best, T.M., Kemps, E.B., & Bryan, J., 2009. Association between dietary saccharide intake and self-reported memory performance in middle-aged adults. British Journal of Nutrition, 101(1), 93-99.
Kemps, E.B. & Tiggemann, M., 2009. Competing visual and olfactory imagery tasks supress craving for coffee. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 17(1), 43-50.
Kemps, E.B. & Tiggemann, M., 2009. Attentional bias for craving-related (chocolate) food cues. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 17(6), 425-433.
Kemps, E.B., Tiggemann, M., & Christianson, R.E., 2008. Concurrent visuo-spatial processing reduces food cravings in prescribed weight-loss dieters. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 39(2), 177-186.
Kemps, E.B., Tiggemann, M., & Grigg, M.A., 2008. Food cravings consume limited cognitive resources. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, 14(3), 247-254.
Newson, R.S. & Kemps, E.B., 2008. Relationship between fitness and cognitive performance in younger and older adults. Psychology and Health, 23(3), 369-386.
Best, T.M., Kemps, E.B., & Bryan, J., 2007. A role for dietary saccharide intake in cognitive performance. Nutritional Neuroscience, 10(3-4), 113-120.
Kemps, E.B. & Tiggemann, M., 2007. Modality-specific imagery reduces cravings for food: An application of the Elaborated Intrusion Theory of Desire to food craving. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, 13(2), 95-104.
Newson, R.S. & Kemps, E.B., 2007. Factors that promote and prevent exercise engagement in older adults. Journal of Aging and Health, 19(3), 470-481.
Kemps, E.B. & Tiggemann, M., 2007. Reducing the vividness and emotional impact of distressing autobiographical memories: The importance of modality-specific interference. Memory, 15(4), 412-422.
Tokley, M.J. & Kemps, E.B., 2007. Preoccupation with detail contributes to poor abstraction in women with anorexia nervosa. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 29(7), 734-741.
Kemps, E.B. & Newson, R.S., 2006. Comparison of adult age differences in verbal and visuo-spatial memory: the importance of 'pure', parallel and validated measures. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 28(3), 341-356.
Kemps, E.B., Tiggemann, M., Wade, T.D., Ben-Tovim, D.I., & Breyer, R., 2006. Selective working memory deficits in anorexia nervosa. European Eating Disorders Review, 14(2), 97-103.
Steel, D., Kemps, E.B., & Tiggemann, M., 2006. Effects of hunger and visuo-spatial interference on imagery-induced food cravings. Appetite, 46(1), 36-40.
Newson, R.S. & Kemps, E.B., 2006. The nature of subjective cognitive complaints of older adults. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 63(2), 139-151.
Newson, R.S. & Kemps, E.B., 2006. The influence of physical and cognitive activities on simple and complex cognitive tasks in older adults. Experimental Aging Research, 32(3), 341-362.
Newson, R.S. & Kemps, E.B., 2006. Cardiorespiratory fitness as a predictor of successful cognitive ageing. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 28(6), 949-967.
McClelland, A.B., Kemps, E.B., & Tiggemann, M., 2006. Reduction of vividness and associated craving in personalized food imagery. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 62(3), 355-365.
Best, T.M., Kemps, E.B., & Bryan, J., 2005. Effects of saccharides on brain function and cognitive performance. Nutrition Reviews, 63(12), 409-418.
Harvey, K., Kemps, E.B., & Tiggemann, M., 2005. The nature of imagery processes underlying food cravings. British Journal of Health Psychology, 10(1), 49-56.
Tiggemann, M. & Kemps, E.B., 2005. The phenomenology of food cravings: the role of mental imagery. Appetite, 45(3), 305-313.
Szmalec, A., Vandierendonck, A., & Kemps, E.B., 2005. Response selection involves executive control: evidence from the selective interference paradigm. Memory and Cognition, 33(3), 531-541.
Newson, R.S. & Kemps, E.B., 2005. General lifestyle activities as a predictor of current cognition and cognitive change in older adults: a cross-sectional and longitudinal examination. Journals of Gerontology Series B - Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 60(3), 113-120.
Kemps, E.B., Tiggemann, M., & Marshall, K.M., 2005. Relationship between dieting to lose weight and the functioning of the central executive. Appetite, 45(3), 287-294.
Kemps, E.B., Tiggemann, M., & Hart, G., 2005. Chocolate cravings are susceptible to visuo-spatial interference. Eating Behaviours, 6(2), 101-107.
Kemps, E.B., Szmalec, A., Vandierendonck, A., & Crevits, L., 2005. Visuo-spatial processing in Parkinson's disease: evidence for diminished visuo-spatial sketch pad and central executive resources. Parkinsonism and Related Disorders, 11(3), 181-186.
Kemps, E.B. & Tiggemann, M., 2005. Working memory performance and preoccupying thoughts in female dieters: Evidence for a selective central executive impairment. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 44(3), 357-366.
Kemps, E.B. & Newson, R.S., 2005. Patterns and predictors of adult age differences in mental imagery. Aging Neuropsychology and Cognition, 12(1), 99-128.
Vandierendonck, A., Kemps, E.B., Fastame, M., & Szmalec, A., 2004. Working memory components of the Corsi blocks task. British Journal of Psychology, 95(1), 57-79.
Kemps, E.B., Tiggemann, M., Woods, D., & Soekev, 2004. Reduction of food cravings through concurrent visuospatial processing. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 36(1), 31-40.
Newson, R.S., Kemps, E.B., & Luszcz, M.A., 2003. Cognitive mechanisms underlying decrements in mental synthesis in older adults. Aging Neuropsychology and Cognition, 10(1), 28-43.
Vreugdenburg, L., Bryan, J., & Kemps, E.B., 2003. The effect of self-initiated weight-loss dieting on working memory: the role of preoccupying cognitions. Appetite, 41(3), 291-300.
Duyck, W., Szmalec, A., Kemps, E.B., & Vandierendonck, A., 2003. Verbal working memory is involved in associative word learning unless visual codes are available. Journal of Memory and Language, 48(3), 527-541.
Andrade, J., Kemps, E.B., Werniers, Y., May, J., & Szmalec, A., 2002. Insensitivity of visual short-term memory to irrelevant visual information. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology Section A - Human Experimental Psychology, 55(3), 753-774.
Kemps, E.B., 2001. Complexity effects in visuo-spatial working memory: Implications for the role of long-term memory. Memory, 9(1), 13-27.
Kemps, E.B. & Tiggemann, M., 2011. Visual processing, food cravings and weight-loss dieters. In Handbook of Behavior, Food and Nutrition. New York: Springer, pp. 1261-1272.
Kemps, E.B., Lopez, C., & Tchanturia, K., 2010. Weak central coherence in anorexia nervosa. In Cognitive therapy of eating disorders on control and worry. New York: Nova Science Publishers, pp. 86-96.
Newson, R.S. & Kemps, E.B., 2004. An examination of the relative effects of physical, intellectual and social activity on age-related declines in cognition. Contributing to an Ageing Agenda: Abstracts and Proceedings of ERA 2004, 171-174.
Newson, R.S. & Kemps, E.B., 2003. Being active can promote successful cognitive ageing. Maximising the Impact on Policy and Practice. Proceedings of ERA 2003.
Newson, R.S., Kemps, E.B., & Luszcz, M.A., 2002. The extent and nature of age-related differences in visual memory. Different disciplines, different methodologies in ageing research: proceedings of ERA 2003 - a forum for emerging researchers in ageing.
Kemps, E.B., Tiggemann, M., Martin, R.L., & Elliot, M.L., 2012. Craving-related motivational tendencies for food. 39th Australasian Experimental Psychology Conference, Sydney, Australia.
Kemps, E.B. & Tiggemann, M., 2011. Attentional bias modification for craving-related food cues. 13th Winter Conference of the Dutch Psychonomics Society, Egmond aan Zee, The Netherlands.
Kemps, E.B., Tiggemann, M., Gleadle, F.C., & Orr, J., 2011. Experimental manipulation of attentional biases for craving-related food cues. 38th Australasian Experimental Psychology Conference, Auckland, New Zealand.
Kemps, E.B., Tiggemann, M., Orr, J., & Gleadle, F.C., 2011. Attentional bias re-training of craving-related food cues. 9th Biennial Conference of the Society for Applied Research in Memory and Cognition, New York, USA.
Tiggemann, M. & Kemps, E.B., 2011. Olfactory stimulation reduces food cravings. 9th Biennial Conference of the Society for Applied Research in Memory and Cognition, New York, USA.
Kemps, E.B., Hollitt, S.J., Tiggemann, M., Smeets, E., & Mills, J.S., 2010. Cognitive mechanisms underlying attentional bias for food cues in dietary restraint. International Conference on Eating disorders.
Tiggemann, M., Kemps, E.B., & Hollitt, S.J., 2010. Effects of media exposure on implicit cognitive processing of food cues. 37th Australasian Experimental Psychology Conference.
Quigg, S., Tiggemann, M., & Kemps, E.B., 2010. Implicit and explicit influence of music television on body image and the mitigating effects of a media intervention. 1st Body Image Conference and International Body Image Symposium.
Kemps, E.B. & Wilsdon, A., 2009. Impulsivity contributes to cognitive disinhibition in bulimia nervosa. Academy for Eating disorders: International Conference on Eating Disorders.
Kemps, E.B., Hollitt, S.J., Tiggemann, M., Smeets, E., & Mills, J.S., 2009. Speeded detection and cognitive avoidance of food cues in restrained eaters. 44th Australian psychological society annual conference book.
Kemps, E.B., Tiggemann, M., & Parnell, J.H., 2009. Food cravings selectively disrupt visuo-spatial task performance. 8th Biennial Conference of the Society for Applied Research in Memory and Cognition.
Kemps, E.B., Tiggemann, M., & Parnell, J.H., 2009. Food cravings selectively interfere with visuo-spatial working memory. Experimental Psychology Conference 2009.
Tiggemann, M. & Kemps, E.B., 2009. Chocolate and coffee : imagery reduction of food craving. International Conference on Eating Disorders.
Smeets, E., Tiggemann, M., Kemps, E.B., Mills, J.S., Roefs, A., & Jansen, A., 2009. Body checking induces an attentional bias for body-related cues. International Conference on Eating Disorders.
Tiggemann, M. & Kemps, E.B., 2009. Chocolate and coffee: Imagery reduction of food craving. 7th Annual Australian and New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders Conference.
Best, T.M., Kemps, E.B., & Bryan, J., 2008. Saccharide supplementation effects on cognition and well-being in middle-aged adults. Abstracts of the 35th Australasian Experimental Psychology Conference, 60(1), 59-59.
Best, T.M., Kemps, E.B., & Bryan, J., 2008. Saccharide supplementation effects for cognition and well-being in middle-aged adults. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society of Australia, 17(suppl3), s50-s50.
Best, T.M., Kemps, E.B., & Bryan, J., 2008. Saccharide effects on cognition and mood in middle-aged adults: A randomised controlled trial. New Horizons in Neuropsychology: 14th Annual Conference of the APS College of Clinical Neuropsychologists.
Best, T.M., Kemps, E.B., & Bryan, J., 2008. The impact of saccharide supplementation on cognition and mood in middle-aged adults. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society: Final Program, Thirty-Sixth Annual Meeting International Neuropsychological Society, February 6-9, 2008, Waikoloa, Hawaii, USA, 14(S1), 280-280.
Kemps, E.B. & Tiggemann, M., 2008. Attentional bias toward craving-related food stimuli. Abstracts of the 35th Australiasian Experimental Psychology Conference, 80-80.
Kemps, E.B. & Tiggemann, M., 2008. A cognitive-experimental approach to reducing food cravings and modifying eating behaviour. Abstracts of the 16th Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior, 51, 376-376.
Kemps, E.B., Tiggemann, M., & Grigg, M.A., 2007. Food cravings consume limited working memory capacity. SARMAC VII: The Society for Applied Research in Memory and Cognition.
Best, T.M., Kemps, E.B., & Bryan, J., 2007. Relationships between dietary saccharide intake and self-reported health and psychological wellbeing in mid-life. Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging, 11(5), 404-404.
Best, T.M., Kemps, E.B., & Bryan, J., 2007. Effects of saccharide supplementation on cognition and mood in mid-life. Australasian Journal on Ageing: 40th National Conference Australian Association of Gerontology, 26(Suppl. 1), A4-A4.
Kemps, E.B. & Tiggemann, M., 2006. Impact of food craving on working memory performance. 33rd Australasian Experimental Psychology Conference.
Kemps, E.B. & Tokley, M.J., 2006. Preoccupation with detail contributes to poor abstract thinking in anorexia nervosa. Academy for Eating Disorders: International Conference on Eating Disorders.
Kemps, E.B., 2006. Eating disorders and executive function. Academy for Eating Disorders: International Conference on Eating Disorders.
Kemps, E.B. & Tiggemann, M., 2006. Efficacy of working memory techniques to reduce food cravings. 4th International Conference on Memory.
Best, T.M., Kemps, E.B., & Bryan, J., 2006. Relationship between saccharide intake and memory performance. 4th International Conference on Memory.
Best, T.M., Kemps, E.B., & Bryan, J., 2006. Benefit of dietary saccharide intake to verbal memory performance in middle-aged adults. 33rd Australasian Experimental Psychology Conference.
Tiggemann, M. & Kemps, E.B., 2006. Imagery components of food craving. 4th International Conference on Memory.
Kemps, E.B. & Tiggemann, M., 2005. Concurrent visuo-spatial processing reduces food cravings. Proceedings of the 6th Biennial Conference of the Society for Applied Research in Memory and Cognition.
Kemps, E.B. & Tiggemann, M., 2005. Imagery-based techniques suppress unwanted cravings for food. Abstracts of the 2nd South Australian Clinical Psychology Conference.
Kemps, E.B., Andrade, J., & Gilman, E., 2005. Susceptibility of visual imagery and short-term memory to visual interference. Australian Journal of Psychology, 57(Supp 1), 57-57.
Newson, R.S. & Kemps, E.B., 2005. Physical exercise as a protective factor for successful cognitive ageing. 34th Annual Scientific and Educational Meeting of the Canadian Association of Gerontology (CAG): Book of Abstracts, 134-134.
Newson, R.S. & Kemps, E.B., 2005. The relationship between aerobic fitness and successful cognitive ageing. Proceedings of the 6th Biennial Conference of the Society for Applied Research in Memory and Cognition.
Steel, D., Kemps, E.B., & Tiggemann, M., 2005. The role of hunger in the experience and reduction of food cravings. Proceedings of the 32nd Australasian Experimental Psychology Conference.
Kemps, E.B. & Tiggemann, M., 2004. Visuo-spatial processing: a new technique for suppressing food cravings [Abstract]. SA Clinical Psychology Conference: Innovations in Clinical Psychology Practice: Conference Abstracts, 3-3.
Kemps, E.B., Newson, R.S., & Luszcz, M.A., 2003. Adult age differences in, and predictors of, mental imagery: Implications for everyday cognition. Ageing and Cognitive Function: Proceedings of the 5th Biennial Conference of the Society for Applied Research in Memory and Cognition.
Newson, R.S., Kemps, E.B., & Luszcz, M.A., 2003. Adult Age Differences in Visual Imagery. 13th Biennial Australasian Human Development Conference.
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