Sequelae of early undernutrition on reaction time of rural children at 11-14 years.

85 undernourished rural school children at 11-14 yr of age were randomly selected on the basis of their nutritional status during first five years of life for assessment of reaction time (RT). Audio-visual RT apparatus and electromyograph were used for the study. Early life undernourished children had prolonged RT as compared to their matched control maintaining normal nutrition status in first five years of life. The total, premotor and motor RT for audio as well as visual stimuli were affected in these undernourished children. The RT increased with severity of current undernutrition; those achieving normal nutritional status at this age continued to have prolonged RT. The study suggests that the early life undernutrition affects perceptual abilities, information processing and analytical capabilities.