THE EFFECTS OF FOOD-DEPRIVATION AND INCENTIVE MOTIVATION ON BLOOD-GLUCOSE LEVELS AND COGNITIVE FUNCTION

The current study investigated the relationships between blood glucose levels, mild food deprivation, sympathetic arousal, and cognitive pro cessing efficiency. Subjects (n = 82) were randomly assigned to four e xperimental conditions, comprising combined manipulations of food depr ivation and incentive motivation. Baseline and mid-session measurement s of blood glucose, blood pressure and pulse rate were taken. Subjects completed a number of measures of cognitive processing efficiency and self report measures of affective and somatic state. Although glucose levels were lowered following food deprivation, there was no signific ant detrimental effect of food deprivation on task performance. Howeve r, improved recognition memory processing times were associated with d eprivation. Incentive motivation was associated with faster simple rea ction times and higher diastolic blood pressure. There were no signifi cant relationships between glucose levels and task performance. furthe r supporting the hypothesis that the brain is relatively invulnerable to short food deprivation.