Effect of habitual breakfast skipping on information processing capacity, cortical response, and cognitive flexibility among medical collegiate – a cross-sectional study

Anugraha Jennifer; Krishnan Srinivasan; Jeneth Berlin Raj

doi:10.1515/jbcpp-2023-0178

Article

Effect of habitual breakfast skipping on information processing capacity, cortical response, and cognitive flexibility among medical collegiate – a cross-sectional study

Anugraha Jennifer , Krishnan Srinivasan and Jeneth Berlin Raj

Published/Copyright: November 14, 2023

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From the journal Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology Volume 34 Issue 6

Abstract

Objectives

Breakfast replenishes glucose homeostasis and provides other micro-nutrients for the normal functioning of the body after a long night at night. Habitually skipping breakfast leads not only to metabolic disturbances but also to neurocognitive impairment. Hence, the current study was carried out to study the effect of skipping breakfast on neurocognitive functions.

Methods

A 9-item breakfast questionnaire was distributed online to students for identifying habitual breakfast skippers from non-skippers based on inclusion criteria. Random blood glucose was noted and visual and auditory reaction time, critical flicker fusion frequency, and Stroop test were assessed in both groups to assess cognition.

Results

Forty one habitual breakfast skippers who met the inclusion criteria showed increased visual reaction time, and auditory reaction time indicating cognitive impairment. A significant reduction in the Stroop test was observed among the non-skipper group when compared to the skipper group.

Conclusions

This study suggests that skipping breakfast diminishes neurocognitive functions like problem-solving, planning, judgment, information retention, and reasoning.

Keywords: breakfast skippers; cognition; critical flicker fusion frequency; reaction time; Stroop test

Corresponding author: Jeneth Berlin Raj, Department of Physiology, Arunai Medical College and Hospital, Tiruvannamalai, India, E-mail: jenethberlinraj@gmail.com

Acknowledgments

Mahatma Gandhi Medical College & Research Institute, Pondicherry for providing amenities to complete the study.

Research ethics: Ethics approval was obtained from Institute human ethics committee, MGMCRI/IRC/06/2020/93/IHEC/235.
Informed consent: Informed consent was obtained from all individuals included in this study.
Author contributions: Anugraha Jennifer – First author – involved in recruiting subjects, analysis and drafting the content. Krishnan Srinivasan – Second author – supervisor/quality controller – involved in analyzing data and drafting. Jeneth Berlin Raj – Corresponding author – Principal investigator – involved in designing, data analyzing and drafting. All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
Competing interests: All other authors state no conflict of interest.
Research funding: None declared.
Data availability: The raw data can be obtained on request from the corresponding author.

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Received: 2023-07-19

Accepted: 2023-10-24

Published Online: 2023-11-14

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/jbcpp-2023-0178

Keywords for this article

breakfast skippers; cognition; critical flicker fusion frequency; reaction time; Stroop test