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.
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.
