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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Little Rock, Arkansas » Microbiome and Metabolism Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #151174
Title: MORNING NUTRITION AND EVENT-RELATED POTENTIAL MEASURES OF ATTENTION AND INHIBITION

Author
item PIVIK, R - ACNC
item DYKMAN, ROSCOE - ACNC

Submitted to: Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/3/2003
Publication Date: 3/17/2003
Citation: PIVIK, R.T., DYKMAN, R.A. Morning nutrition and event-related potential measures of attention and inhibition. FEDERATION OF AMERICAN SOCIETIES FOR EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY CONFERENCE. 2003. v. 17(5). p. A1150. Abstract No. 709.10.

Interpretive Summary: The USDA school breakfast and school lunch program has been in existence for years and but never tested for the effects on cognitive functions, attention or learning. The ACNC is interested in both evaluating such effects and determining the dietary composition, timing of eating in relationship to learning tasks and the food intake dynamics on central nervous system function of school age children. We have developed non-invasive techniques that can be used to study infants as young as one day, children and adults. This study examined the effects of eating one of the standard USDA breakfasts or skipping breakfast on performance of an attentional task and associated brain activity (evoked event-related potentials) in healthy 8-11 year old children. Eating breakfast did not affect the number of correct responses made, but did slow reaction time to target stimuli and decreased brain activity associated with withholding responses.

Technical Abstract: The effects of eating or skipping breakfast on attention and performance variables were investigated in healthy children (8-11 yrs. old; IQ > 80). Cortical event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded while subjects performed a Continuous Performance Task requiring a button-press response to primed target stimuli (go) and response inhibition to similarly primed non-target stimuli (no go). The task was performed first after overnight fasting and then again after eating a breakfast [high carbohydrate to protein ratio (4:1)] based on School Breakfast Program requirements (n=18; 8 males) or while continuing to fast (n=18; 7 males). Measures of sleep (overnight actigraphy) and blood glucose (finger sticks before testing sessions) were also obtained. Groups were similar in sleep duration and blood glucose increased after eating in the fed group (p<.01). Treatment conditions did not differentiate between groups on performance [correct or incorrect responses;reaction time (RT)] or ERP variables [attentional (occipital P1-N2) or inhibitory (frontocentral N2) waves ]. However, relative to the initial fasting condition RT slowed (p<.02) and N2 amplitude decreased (p<.001) for subjects who were fed. These preliminary results indicate that the breakfast pattern used influenced performance and affected a measure of response inhibition, but did not significantly affect response accuracy. Supported in part by the Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center through USDA ARS CRIS # 6251-51000-002-03S