How should we measure nutrition-induced improvements in memory?

There is a basic distinction between declarative memories, which can be stated verbally, and non-declarative memory, such as how to ride a bicycle, which cannot be expressed in words. With age it is the performance of declarative memory, particularly episodic memory that requires recall of events placed in time, that declines. As memory is not a unitary phenomenon, it should be ideally monitored using a range of tests that reflect theoretical conceptions of the topic. If circumstances demand the use of a single test then a measure of episodic memory is suggested. When it proves only possible to use a rating scale it should be ensured that memory is distinguished from other aspects of cognition and that different types of memory are not confused. The tests used, and the form in which they are used, need to be chosen to be of appropriate difficulty for the sample studied. A major conclusion is that the selection of the measure of memory used in the study of a dietary intervention should never be routine. It is inevitable that the form of the test used will need to be chosen carefully for the population being studied

Attention, psychomotor functions and age

Nutrition might play an important role to ameliorate or to buffer age-related declines in attention and psychomotor functions. The assessment of nutritional effects in aged subjects has to take into account that attention and psychomotor functions can be subdivided in different functions that are differentially affected by age. This paper gives an overview of changes in different facets of attention and psychomotor functions beyond fifty as well as assessment methods for attention and psychomotor performance. It also provides a review of models to explain the pattern of changes with increasing age, and discusses the problems of high performance variance and of age related confounding variables like health status. Two different approaches are discussed that analyse a performance profile and an experimentally oriented functional microanalysis of changes in performance with respect to the effects of nutrition on attention and psychomotor functions. Addressed are examples of missing age-related deficits or even age-related superiority. Caffeine and Ginseng are considered as examples to enhance performance in older persons. Results are in accordance with data on the positive role of physical fitness for mental performance in older persons. Performance of older persons can well be enhanced by functional food components or nutritional supplementation. The effects are comparable to the effects obtained in younger groups, while there is only weak evidence for specific compensatory effects in aged persons. Finally the role of nutrition for the processes of healthy aging is discussed

General methodological considerations for the assessment of nutritional influences on human cognitive functions

The premise that cognitive functioning can be influenced through dietary means has gained widespread interest. The assessment of cognitive functioning is a key method to scientifically substantiate such nutritional effects on cognition. The current paper provides a basic overview of the main concepts, issues and pitfalls of human cognitive research. General methods of cognitive assessment, selection of appropriate tests, factors that may mediate task performance and issues pertaining to the interpretation of the results are discussed

Training of junior rowers before world championships. Effects on performance, mood state and selected hormonal and metabolic responses

Background. Few data have been published on training of competitive athletes and about metabolic, hormonal and psychological reactions to overreaching (transient overtraining) and tapering in successful athletes

The case of Air Traffic Control training

Air traffic controllers have to guarantee safe and efficient air traffic by predicting future flight paths based on their perception and interpretation of multiple data on the radar display. The multi-tasking nature of their job makes the cognitive and emotional processes required in Air Traffic Control fundamentally different from those traditionally studied in the lab. Thus, Air Traffic Control represents a unique naturalistic opportunity to investigate how such a demanding job may shape cognition. This chapter reviews work dealing with the cognitive characteristics of air traffic control, as well as the few studies that have investigated how training and experience in this profession change different aspects of cognitive functioning, in particular different facets of cognitive flexibility and planning abilities. Finally, it will also examine the cognitive consequences of the unique challenges represented by man-technology interactions inherent in this job. Despite the promising findings reviewed in this chapter, the research on the cognitive enhancement derived from training and experience on ATC is still limited and not conclusive. Further methodologically well-controlled studies are clearly needed to obtain a more comprehensive picture of the extraordinary potentialities of this profession