Glucose-Induced Enhancement of Spatial Memory in Humans

Location

CSU

Student's Major

Psychology

Student's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Mentor's Name

Robert Flint

Mentor's Department

Psychology

Mentor's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Description

Glucose has repeatedly been shown to enhance learning and memory processes for a variety of tasks in humans and non-human animals. This study examined the effect of glucose on human spatial memory. Thirty-two young adults were randomly assigned to one of three treatment conditions (l00mg/kg or 50g glucose or saccharine). Subjects consumed a lemon-flavored beverage containing the appropriate sweetener and were subsequently presented with 16 pictures arranged on a 4 x 4 grid. Following a 20-second study period the pictures were removed, shuffled and handed to the subject who attempted to place them in their appropriate location on the grid. Subjects received three consecutive trials and on recall trial 24-hrs later. Results indicated that subjects receiving l00mg/kg of glucose performed significantly better than controls. These finding are consistent with results from both human and non-human studies examining the effects of glucose on other forms of memory.

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Glucose-Induced Enhancement of Spatial Memory in Humans

CSU

Glucose has repeatedly been shown to enhance learning and memory processes for a variety of tasks in humans and non-human animals. This study examined the effect of glucose on human spatial memory. Thirty-two young adults were randomly assigned to one of three treatment conditions (l00mg/kg or 50g glucose or saccharine). Subjects consumed a lemon-flavored beverage containing the appropriate sweetener and were subsequently presented with 16 pictures arranged on a 4 x 4 grid. Following a 20-second study period the pictures were removed, shuffled and handed to the subject who attempted to place them in their appropriate location on the grid. Subjects received three consecutive trials and on recall trial 24-hrs later. Results indicated that subjects receiving l00mg/kg of glucose performed significantly better than controls. These finding are consistent with results from both human and non-human studies examining the effects of glucose on other forms of memory.