Randomized, blind parallel group design. Single intake of 55 g high Epicatechin /Melissa dark chocolate containing 160 mg Epicatechin per 55 g serving or single intake of 55 g low Epicatechin/ oat bran white chocolate containing \< 0,00045 mg Epicatechin per 55 g serving. A Total of 128 participants, 64 in each group, approx. equal number of male and female. There will be replacement of Drop-Outs until data from 128 participants are completed. The primary endpoints will be performance in a pictorial memory task and a verbal memory task . The secondary endpoints will be performance in a working memory test, Saliva cortisol, Visual analog scales assessing, anxiety, confidence, interference, solicitude, and excitement.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
128
Single consumption of a 55g bar of dark chocolate containing: 42.8g Acticoa chocolate + 7.2g caster sugar + 5g Melissa
Single consumption of a 55g bar of white chocolate containing: 50g Lindor chocolate + 5g oat bran
University of Basel, Division of Cognitive Neuroscience
Basel, Switzerland
Pictorial memory task
Participants will be presented with 24 neutral, 24 positive and 24 negative photographs in a random order. Scores will be calculated by summing the correctly remembered photographs per valence.
Time frame: 25 minutes and 24 h after presentation
Verbal memory task
Six series of five semantically unrelated nouns will be presented.Total score is calculated by summing the number of correctly recalled words
Time frame: 25 minutes and 24 h after presentation
Saliva cortisol level
Samples are collected at different timepoints during the day in order to measure stress related cortisol activity. Participants have to chew a cotton sponge for 2-3 minutes, which then are contained in a special device
Time frame: 1 day after word/picture presentation Start /middle and end of day. Baseline cortisol 1-14 days later.
Working memory
Participants will have to calculate as many arithmetical means of seven one-digit numbers possible within two minutes by mental calculation.
Time frame: 1 day after word/picture presentation
Visual Analogue Scale VAS test anxiety
will be assessed between each task by the participant using a visual analogue scale. Respondents specify their level of agreement to the statement by indicating a position along a continuous line (10 cm).
Time frame: 1 day after word/picture presentation
Visual Analogue Scale VAS confidence
will be assessed between each task by the participant using a visual analogue scale. Respondents specify their level of agreement to the statement by indicating a position along a continuous line (10 cm).
Time frame: 1 day after word/picture presentation
Visual Analogue Scale VAS interference
will be assessed between each task by the participant using a visual analogue scale. Respondents specify their level of agreement to the statement by indicating a position along a continuous line (10 cm).
Time frame: 1 day after word/picture presentation
Visual Analogue Scale VAS solicitude
will be assessed between each task by the participant using a visual analogue scale. Respondents specify their level of agreement to the statement by indicating a position along a continuous line (10 cm).
Time frame: 1 day after word/picture presentation
Visual Analogue Scale VAS excitement
will be assessed between each task by the participant using a visual analogue scale. Respondents specify their level of agreement to the statement by indicating a position along a continuous line (10 cm).
Time frame: 1 day after word/picture presentation
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