Breakfast reduces declines in attention and memory over the morning in schoolchildren.
Twenty-nine schoolchildren were tested throughout the morning on 4 successive days, having a different breakfast each day (either of the cereals Cheerios or Shreddies, glucose drink or No breakfast). A series of computerised tests of attention, working memory and episodic secondary memory was conducted prior to breakfast and again 30, 90, 150 and 210 min later. The glucose drink and No breakfast conditions were followed by declines in attention and memory, but the declines were significantly reduced in the two cereal conditions. This study provides objective evidence that a typical breakfast of cereal rich in complex carbohydrates can help maintain mental performance over the morning.
Wesnes
Keith A
KA
Cognitive Drug Research Ltd, Reading RG30 1EA, UK. keithw@cdr.org.uk
Pincock
Claire
C
Richardson
David
D
Helm
Gareth
G
Hails
Simon
S
D000293:Adolescent; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004032:Diet; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002523:Edible Grain; D006801:Humans; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates