The aim of this study is to determine whether drinking plain water when mildly dehydrated benefits cognitive performance and mood. Volunteers undergo a dehydration protocol designed to result in minor dehydration. While some participants receive two 150ml drinks of water others do not. Differences in cognitive functioning are assessed.
As an essential nutrient, an inadequate intake of water has negative consequences: without a source of water death will occur in days. When Benton and Young (2015) reviewed the topic they concluded that in healthy adults, mild dehydration (in the range of a loss of 2% body mass) had been found to adversely influence mood and cognition. However, it is unclear at what degree of hypohydration these effects begin to emerge. This study was designed to determine whether small changes in hydration, of the level that might occur on a day to day basis, influence cognition and mood. During a dehydration protocol (sitting in a room heated to 30 degrees for four hours) young adult participants receive either drink two 150ml cups of water or nothing. Effects on memory, attention and mood are monitored.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
101
Participants will receive two cups of 150ml plain water
Swansea University
Swansea, West Glamorgan, United Kingdom
Episodic memory - list of 30 words
Participants listen to a list of 30 words presented using a tape recorder. The words are of similar difficulty and matched for the number of syllables and frequency with which they occur in English. The subjects are asked to recall and write down as many words as possible. The difference in the total number of words remembered from baseline (before the intervention) is analysed.
Time frame: change from 0 to 180 minutes after the start of the dehydration protocol
Focused attention - Eriksen Flanker Task
The Arrow Flankers test measures the ability to direct attention and ignore peripheral information. Participants are required to indicate whether the middle arrow is pointing to the right or left by pressing the corresponding arrow on the keyboard. Either side of the central arrow are distractors. Both the average reaction times (in milliseconds) and accuracy are recorded. The difference in performance from baseline (before the intervention) is analysed.
Time frame: change from 0 to 180 minutes after the start of the dehydration protocol
Thirst (Participants rate their thirst)
Participants rate their thirst
Time frame: change from 0 to 180 minutes after the start of the dehydration protocol
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