The influence of a glucose drink on a demanding working memory task

A group of young adult females, who had or had not eaten breakfast, drank either a glucose drink or a placebo. Fasting was associated with poorer performance on the Brown-Petersen task, a test of memory. A glucose drink improved the memory of those who had fasted, although it did not influence those who had eaten breakfast. In those who had fasted, the glucose drink resulted in memory comparable to those who had consumed breakfast. Those with higher levels of blood glucose upon arrival in the laboratory had better memories. In those taking a glucose drink, after an initial rise, rapidly falling levels of blood glucose were associated with better memory.