Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 26, 2026
08:08
Eye Tracking, Cortisol, and a Sleep vs. Wake Consolidation Delay: Combining Methods to Uncover an Interactive Effect of Sleep and Cortisol on Memory
Published on: June 18, 2014
The early bird does not get the worm: time-of-day effects on college students' basic cognitive processing
Philip A Allen1, Jeremy Grabbe, Ann McCarthy
1Department of Psychology, The University of Akron, AOH 44325-4301, USA. paallen@uakron.edu
The American Journal of Psychology
|December 25, 2008
Summary
Cognitive performance, including executive functioning and processing speed, is better in the afternoon and evening for college students. Time of day did not impact semantic or episodic memory recall.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Cognitive performance can fluctuate throughout the day.
- Understanding diurnal variations in cognition is crucial for academic and professional settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of time of day on various cognitive functions in college students.
- To determine if specific cognitive domains show performance differences across morning, afternoon, and evening testing sessions.
Main Methods:
- A neuropsychological and cognitive assessment was conducted on 56 students.
- Participants were tested at three different times of day.
- Cognitive performance was measured for executive control (fluency), processing speed, semantic memory, and episodic memory.
Main Results:
- Fluency and digit symbol task performance were significantly better in the afternoon and evening compared to the morning.
- No significant differences in semantic or episodic memory performance were observed across the different testing times.
- Performance improvements in the afternoon/evening were consistent regardless of testing order.
Conclusions:
- Optimal executive functioning and processing speed for college students may occur in the afternoon and evening.
- Time of day does not appear to influence semantic or episodic memory performance in this population.
- These findings suggest a potential chronotype effect on certain cognitive abilities, irrespective of individual time-of-day preference.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Chronopharmacokinetics: Circadian Rhythms and Influence on Drug Response
Circadian rhythms are cyclic changes that are crucial in plasma drug concentrations. Various standard circadian parameters, including core body temperature, heart rate, and other cardiovascular factors, directly impact disease states and the therapeutic response to drug therapy.
The time of drug administration is an important factor to consider, as it can influence the toxic dose of a drug. For example, a study conducted by Prins et al. in 1997 examined the effects of the timing of...
The time of drug administration is an important factor to consider, as it can influence the toxic dose of a drug. For example, a study conducted by Prins et al. in 1997 examined the effects of the timing of...
02:45Biological Clocks and Seasonal Responses
The circadian—or biological—clock is an intrinsic, timekeeping, molecular mechanism that allows plants to coordinate physiological activities over 24-hour cycles called circadian rhythms. Photoperiodism is a collective term for the biological responses of plants to variations in the relative lengths of dark and light periods. The period of light-exposure is called the photoperiod.
01:30Information Processing Approach
The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is also...
01:08Timing and Consequences on Behavior
In operant conditioning, the timing of reinforcement is crucial. For animals like rats and cats, immediate reinforcement (within a few seconds) is much more effective than delayed reinforcement. For example, a food reward for a rat needs to follow within 30 seconds of pressing a bar to be effective.
Humans, however, can respond to delayed reinforcers. We often make decisions between immediate small rewards and delayed larger rewards. This ability to delay gratification is a significant factor...
Humans, however, can respond to delayed reinforcers. We often make decisions between immediate small rewards and delayed larger rewards. This ability to delay gratification is a significant factor...
01:15Causes of Social Behavior II: Cognitive Processes
Cognitive processes affect social behavior by guiding how individuals perceive, interpret, and respond to social stimuli. These mental processes enable individuals to assess others' behaviors, attribute causes to their actions, and form expectations based on past experiences.Causes of Behavior and Social JudgmentsIndividuals determine the causes of others' behaviors by distinguishing between personal traits and external circumstances. For example, if a friend frequently arrives late, an...
02:19Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation
The biological clock is involved in many aspects of regulating complex physiology in all animals. It was in 1935 when German zoologists, Hans Kalmus and Erwin Bünning, discovered the existence of circadian rhythm in Drosophila melanogaster. However, the internal molecular mechanisms behind the circadian clock remained a mystery until 1984, when Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael W. Young discovered the expression of the Per gene oscillating over a 24-hour cycle. In subsequent years,...