Breakfast is associated with enhanced cognitive function in schoolchildren. An internet based study

• Published in: Appetite Vol. 59; no. 3; pp. 646 - 649
• Main Authors: Wesnes, Keith A., Pincock, Claire, Scholey, Andrew
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2012
• Subjects: Adolescent; Attention; body weight; Breakfast; CDR system; Child; Children; Cognition; Computerised cognitive assessment; Diet; Diet Surveys; Episodic memory; Female; food consumption; Humans; Internet; Internet testing; lunch; Male; memory; Memory, Episodic; Schools; Surveys and Questionnaires; United Kingdom; Breakfast; CDR system; Attention; Children; Internet testing; Computerised cognitive assessment; Episodic memory
• ISSN: 0195-6663; 1095-8304
• DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2012.08.008

► A laboratory study identified breakfast to maintain cognitive function in children. ► This study evaluated the effects of breakfast using internet based cognitive testing. ► 1386 children from schools throughout the UK participated. ► The study findings replicated those of the laboratory study. ► Breakfast can help maintain attention and memory during the morning. In this study, 1386 children aged between 6 and 16years, from schools throughout the UK, logged on to a web site before lunch during Farmhouse Breakfast Week 2004. They answered a number of questions concerning their food and drink consumption that day and performed cognitive tests of attention and episodic memory. Children who had had breakfast showed superior performance on tests of attention and memory, confirming a previous laboratory based study using the same cognitive tests. This study adds weight to the growing body of literature indicating that breakfast plays a positive role in maintaining cognitive function during the morning.