Subjective thirst moderates changes in speed of responding associated with water consumption

Participants (N=34) undertook a CANTAB battery on two separate occasions after fasting and abstaining from fluid intake since the previous evening. On one occasion they were offered 500ml water shortly before testing, and on the other occasion no water was consumed prior to testing. Reaction times, as measured by Simple Reaction Time (SRT), were faster on the occasion on which they consumed water. Furthermore, subjective thirst was found to moderate the effect of water consumption on speed of responding. Response latencies in the SRT task were greater under the “no water” condition than under the “water” condition, but only for those participants with relatively high subjective thirst after abstaining from fluid intake overnight. For those participants with relatively low subjective thirst, latencies were unaffected by water consumption, and were similarly fast as those recorded for thirsty participants who had consumed water. These results reveal the novel finding that subjective thirst moderates the positive effect of fluid consumption on speed of responding. The results also showed evidence that practice also affected task performance. These results imply that, for speed of responding at least, the positive effects of water supplementation may result from an attenuation of the central processing resources consumed by the subjective sensation of thirst that otherwise impair the execution of speeded cognitive processes

Water consumption, not expectancies about water consumption, affects cognitive performance in adults

Research has shown that water supplementation positively affects cognitive performance in children and adults. The present study considered whether this could be a result of expectancies that individuals have about the effects of water on cognition. Forty seven participants were recruited and told the study was examining the effects of repeated testing on cognitive performance. They were assigned either to a condition in which positive expectancies about the effects of drinking water were induced, or a control condition in which no expectancies were induced. Within these groups, approximately half were given a drink of water, while the remainder were not. Performance on a thirst scale, letter cancellation, digit span forwards and backwards and a simple reaction time task was assessed at baseline (before the drink) and 20 minutes and 40 minutes after water consumption. Effects of water, but not expectancy, were found on subjective thirst ratings and letter cancellation task performance, but not on digit span or reaction time. This suggests that water consumption effects on letter cancellation are due to the physiological effects of water, rather than expectancies about the effects of drinking water

Environmental noise exposure, early biological risk and mental health in nine to ten year old children: a cross-sectional field study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Previous research suggests that children born prematurely or with a low birth weight are more vulnerable to the mental health effects of ambient neighbourhood noise; predominantly road and rail noise, at home. This study used data from the Road Traffic and Aircraft Noise Exposure and Children's Cognition and Health (RANCH) study to see if this finding extends to aircraft and road traffic noise at school.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Children and their parents from schools around three European airports were selected to represent a range of aircraft and road traffic noise exposure levels. Birth weight and gestation period were merged to create a dichotomous variable assessing 'early biological risk'. Mental health was assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Complete data were available for 1900 primary school children.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Children who were 'at risk' (i.e. low birth weight or premature birth) were rated as having more conduct problems and emotional symptoms and poorer overall mental health than children not at risk. However, there was no interaction between aircraft or road traffic noise exposure at school and early biological risk.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Data from the RANCH study suggests that children with early biological risk are not more vulnerable to the effects of aircraft or road traffic noise at school on mental health than children without this risk; however they are more likely to have mental ill-health.</p

Cardiovascular effects of environmental noise: Research in the United Kingdom

Although the auditory effects of noise on humans have been established, the non-auditory effects are not so well established. The emerging links between noise and cardiovascular disease (CVD) have potentially important implications on public health and policy. In the United Kingdom (UK), noise from transport is a problem, where more than half of the population is exposed to more than the recommended maximum day-time noise level and just under three-quarters of the population live in areas where the recommended night-time noise level is exceeded. This review focuses on findings from studies conducted in the UK that examined environmental noise and cardiovascular disease. There were statistically no significant associations between road traffic noise and incident ischemic heart disease in the Caerphilly and Speedwell studies, but there was a suggestion of effects when modifying factors such as length of residence, room orientation, and window opening were taken into account. In a sample stratified by pre-existing disease a strongly increased odds of incident ischemic heart disease for the highest annoyance category was found compared to the lowest among men without pre-existing disease (OR = 2.45, 95%1.13 - 5.31), which was not found in men with pre-existing disease. In the Hypertension and exposure to noise near airports (HYENA) study, night time aircraft noise exposure (L night ) was associated with an increased risk of hypertension, in fully adjusted analyses. A 10-dB increase in aircraft noise exposure was associated with an odds ratio of 1.14 (95%CI, 1.01 - 1.29). Aircraft noise was not consistently related to raised systolic blood pressure in children in the road traffic and aircraft noise exposure and children′s cognition and health (RANCH) study. There is some evidence of an association among environmental noise exposure and hypertension and ischemic heart disease in the UK studies; further studies are required to explore gender differences, the effects of day and night time exposure, and exposure modifying factors

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Abstract Objectives: Research on athletes&apos; achievement goals has suggested that the contrast between performance approach and performance avoidance goals (performance approach-avoidance contrast) is a significant predictor of sports performance. However, so far only two studies investigating triathletes found that performance approach-avoidance contrast predicted sports performance in competitions. The present study aims to replicate and expand on these findings with a diverse sample of track and field athletes. Design: The study used a prospective correlational design controlling for athletes&apos; previous performance (personal best). Results: Results showed that the performance approach-avoidance contrast in athletes&apos; achievement goals predicted absolute performance and qualification success in the championships beyond what was predicted from athletes&apos; personal best. Conclusions: The findings corroborate previous findings that, when athletes pursue performance goals, the relative strength of athletes&apos; motivational orientation (approach vs. avoidance) is critical for performance and competitive success

Achievement goals and championship performance: Predicting absolute performance and qualification success

Objectives: Research on athletes’ achievement goals has suggested that the contrast between performance approach and performance avoidance goals (performance approach-avoidance contrast) is a significant predictor of sports performance. However, so far only two studies investigating triathletes found that performance approach-avoidance contrast predicted sports performance in competitions. The present study aims to replicate and expand on these findings with a diverse sample of track and field athletes. Design: The study used a prospective correlational design controlling for athletes’ previous performance (personal best). Method: A sample of 161 track and field athletes competing at the 2008 Outdoor Athletic Championships of the British Universities Sports Association completed questionnaires indicating their personal best and their achievement goals before competing in the championships. Two measures of championship performance (absolute performance, qualification success) were obtained from the official records. Results: Results showed that the performance approach-avoidance contrast in athletes’ achievement goals predicted absolute performance and qualification success in the championships beyond what was predicted from athletes’ personal best. Conclusions: The findings corroborate previous findings that, when athletes pursue performance goals, the relative strength of athletes’ motivational orientation (approach vs. avoidance) is critical for performance and competitive success