BLOOD-GLUCOSE INFLUENCES MEMORY AND ATTENTION IN YOUNG-ADULTS

There is evidence from animal studies that increased blood glucose lev els are associated with im proved memory and attention. Although previ ous studies have found human memory to be facilitated by the administr ation of glucose, attentional measures have been largely ignored. Ther efore the impact of a glucose drink, or a placebo, on the Rapid Inform ation Processing Task and the Stroop Task was examined. The reaction t imes of those taking the Rapid Information Processing Task were faster both during the baseline period and after a glucose drink if the bloo d glucose values were high. With the Stroop task the ability to perfor m the most cognitively demanding sub-test was selectively enhanced if blood glucose values were increasing prior to starling the test. The a bility to recall words from a word list was greater ifa glucose drink had been consumed, although primacy and recency were not differentiall y influenced. The possibility is discussed that higher levels of brain glucose are associated with better memory and attention.