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Updated: Jun 24, 2026

A Method for Manipulating Blood Glucose and Measuring Resulting Changes in Cognitive Accessibility of Target Stimuli
Published on: August 12, 2016
The influence of carbohydrate on cognitive performance: a critical evaluation from the perspective of glycaemic load
Mary B Gilsenan1, Eveline A de Bruin, Louise Dye
1Unilever Food and Health Research Institute, Unilever R&D Vlaardingen, Olivier van Noortlaan 120, PO Box 114, 3130 AC Vlaardingen, The Netherlands. mary.gilsenan@unilever.com
Abstract:
Links between nutrition and cognition are widely acknowledged. Within the context of short-term cognitive performance, carbohydrate has been the dietary component most commonly investigated. The majority of studies investigating the influence of carbohydrate on cognitive performance have employed oral glucose drink interventions followed by measures of performance on cognitive tests. More recently, studies have investigated the effect of different carbohydrates on cognitive performance rather than just pure glucose drinks. To date, studies have not been evaluated based on a standardised measure of glycaemic response, such as glycaemic load. The present review provides a critical evaluation of eight studies that have explored the relationships between food carbohydrate and cognitive performance and allow glycaemic load to be used as a basis for comparison. The key finding is that these provide insufficient evidence to support a consistent effect of glycaemic load on short-term cognitive performance. Future studies should employ consistent test methodologies and describe food interventions in more detail to facilitate meaningful comparisons and interpretations of results.
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