Rats who received blueberry powder increased their memory task performance from 60% to 83% accuracy
Drug and alcohol cravings have been proven to affect cognitive performance (study participants demonstrate slower reaction times, increased levels of distraction and impaired working memory skills when exposed to craving inducing stimuli). Given the parallels between substance abuse and binge-eating (see: Similarities Between Food Addiction and Drug Addiction), it’s not surprising that researchers have extended this principle to food – finding that food cravings, like drug and alcohol cravings, negatively impact cognitive functioning.
Until recently, food and working memory research has been limited to chocolate; in 2010, Tiggermann, Kemps and Parnell confirmed that chocolate cravings interfere with memory by competing for visuospatial working memory resources (see also: Kemps, Tiggermann and Grigg, 2008). However, a 2012 study published in Appetite (Meule, Skirde, Freund, Vögele and Kübler) found that high-calorie food cues also induce cravings and impair working memory performance – meaning that the role of cravings in cognitive performance doesn’t just stop at M&M’s.
Great article! Very informative, well-written and well-researched. We grow blueberries, but not at this time of year in PA. I’ll be putting them on my shopping list after reading this! Thanks!
So glad you liked it! We had a lot of wild blackberries (also a good source of anthocyanins!) growing by our house when I was younger – there’s something about picking them yourself that just makes them taste better! :)
This is very intersting! Thank goodness I love blueberries! :)