Effect of Monday-Thursday Fasting on Cognitive Function of Teenager

Abstract

Cognitive function consists many aspects, one of them is memory. Memory is a complex cognitive function that allows the recording, maintenance, and utilization of new information. Memory can be distinguished into two types: short-term memory and long-term memory. One part of short-term memory is the working memory. All the function takes place in human brain which requires large amount of energy which came from glucose degradation of daily food. A recent study shows there is no effect of fasting on cognitive function of university student, but there is no current data about teenager. So, the objective of this research is to find whether fasting influences performance on memory task of teenager. Sequential Probe Delayed Matching to Sample (SPDMS) task was selected as a memory task, which subjects was ordered to perform a test in two conditions: fasting and no fasting. Data was analyzed by ANOVA implemented in R statistical program. The result shows that fasting affected working memory task. Task performances got better under fasting condition, possibly because the effect of stress on subjects performances. There were also influences from sex difference due to male’s brain advantage in spatial skill which is necessary for SPDMS task. Learning process from previous session also gave influence, but the effect was small. It is due to the efficiency of human brain to study about new information. In conclusion, fasting was the main factor influencing working memory task, while session and sex difference gave only small.