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Sugar intake and expectation effects on cognition and mood
Grace E Giles1, Benjamin F Avanzato1, Belén Mora1
1Department of Psychology.
Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology
|June 5, 2018
Summary
High-fructose corn syrup intake improved sustained attention, but expecting sugar did not enhance cognitive performance. Sugar consumption benefits specific cognitive functions, not just expectations.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Nutritional Psychology
Background:
- Inconsistent findings link glucose intake to cognitive improvements.
- Expectations about sugar can significantly influence performance outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the separate and combined effects of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) intake and sugar expectation on cognitive function and mood.
- To determine if sugar expectation alone can elicit performance benefits.
Main Methods:
- 105 healthy young adults were randomly assigned to four groups based on HFCS consumption (yes/no) and expectation (told sugar/told no sugar).
- Participants completed mood and cognitive assessments, including the Stroop test and continuous performance task, after 30 minutes.
Main Results:
- Tension increased when participants expected sugar, irrespective of actual intake.
- HFCS intake enhanced accuracy and sensitivity while reducing false alarms on the continuous performance task, indicating improved sustained attention.
- No significant effects of sugar intake or expectation were observed on other mood or cognitive measures.
Conclusions:
- Acute intake of HFCS may selectively benefit cognitive processes requiring sustained attention.
- The expectation of consuming sugar does not appear sufficient to produce cognitive benefits.
- Future research should explore mechanisms underlying HFCS effects on attention.
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