ABSTRACT
Preliminary studies have claimed that short term fasting would negatively affect school performance and cognition. In contrast some other studies have reported not important decline in cognition and executive function as a result of fasting. Also limited attention was generally devoted to dietetic regimens, nutritional status and body weight. Yet neuroscience and neuro-cognitive aspects of acute hunger on the electroencephalogram and differences between obese and non-obese cases is not well understood. Hence, we decided to design and perform a case study in a more controlled situation similar to reality. Therefore, we performed several examinations including subjective tests (for eating status) and objective tests (cognitive tests such as Stroop effect and Sternberg search and electroencephalogram measures such as steady-state visual evoked potential and auditory steady-state responses) for an obese and a non-obese academic case before and after a simple breakfast. The results showed that the breakfast effects on the neuro-cognitive functions depend on either obesity status, nutritional status of the case or the type of cognitive task (visual or auditory). This paper would open a new insight to answer some important questions about the neuro-cognitive implications of fasting and feeding in obese and non-obese human cases.
Subject(s)
Humans , Body Weight , Breakfast , Cognition , Eating , Electroencephalography , Evoked Potentials, Visual , Executive Function , Fasting , Hunger , Neurosciences , Nutritional Status , Obesity , Stroop TestABSTRACT
CONTEXTO: Diversos déficits neuropsicológicos têm sido detectados em indivíduos com risco ultra-alto de desenvolver psicose, mas o melhor instrumento neuropsicológico para detectar esses déficits está ainda para ser determinado. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar o perfil neuropsicológico de indivíduos em risco ultra-alto de psicose (UHRP) usando a bateria MATRICS, em comparação com controles combinados por idade, gênero e quociente de inteligência. MÉTODO: O funcionamento neuropsicológico foi medido em 27 pacientes em UHRP e 38 controles usando a bateria MATRICS. UHRP foi diagnosticado usando a escala para Avaliação Cognitiva de Estados Mentais em Risco (CAARMS), e tanto o funcionamento social como o global também foram avaliados. As comparações entre grupos foram estabelecidas usando ANOVA, ANCOVA e correlação de Pearson. RESULTADOS: Os sujeitos em UHRP marcaram 0,5 a 1,7 desvios-padrão abaixo dos controles na memória de trabalho, aprendizagem verbal e visual e cognição social. CONCLUSÃO: Indivíduos em UHRP apresentam déficits seletivos no funcionamento neurocognitivo quando comparados com controles, que podem ser detectados com MATRICS. Esse instrumento parece ser útil para a detecção temporã de estados de UHRP.
BACKGROUND: Several neuropsychological deficits have been detected in subjects at ultra high risk of developing psychosis, but the best neuropsychological instruments to detect these deficits are yet to be determined. OBJECTIVES: Assess neuropsychological profile of subjects at ultra high risk of psychosis (UHRP) using MATRICS battery (Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia) compared with age, gender and Intelligence Quotient matched controls. METHOD: Neuropsychological functioning was measured in 27 UHRP patients and 38 controls using MATRICS battery. UHRP was diagnosed using the Cognitive Assessment of at Risk Mental States (CAARMS) scale, and both social and global functioning was assessed as well. Comparisons between groups were established using ANOVA, ANCOVA and Pearson correlation. RESULTS: UHRP subjects scored 0.5 to 1.7 SD below controls in working memory, verbal and visual learning and social cognition. DISCUSSION: UHRP subjects exhibit selective deficits in neuro-cognitive functioning when compared with controls, which can be detected with MATRICS. This instrument seems to be helpful for early detection of UHRP states.