COGNITIVE, PERCEPTUAL AND BEHAVIORAL EFFECTS OF NEURO-STIMULI: A STUDY ON PACKAGED FOOD PRODUCTS

Abstract

Today, the food sector is characterised with intense competition and continuously becoming more challenging for marketers. When it is realised that 95% of consumers' purchasing decisions are made unconsciously, marketing tools started to target unconscious minds. Combining neuroscience and marketing disciplines, neuromarketing studies found that neuro-stimuli, directly addressing the brain, are influential on consumer perceptions. This study investigates the effects of neuro-stimuli applied on food product poster and packaging on mother-woman and child consumers' brand awareness, quality perceptions and purchase intentions. In the experimental design implemented, a total of 284 subjects composed of women and children are divided into 6 groups, and they were exposed to various degrees of neuro-stimuli in the poster and product packages in order to measure the influence of these stimuli. Findings of the research confirmed that application of neuro-stimuli significantly increased quality perception of women and purchase intentions of both woman and child consumers. Increasing intensity of neuro-stimuli also generated a partially significant influence. Theoretical and managerial implications are provided based on these findings.