Research Article VS News

The Effect of Flavanol-rich

Media Cocoa
on the fMRI Response to
a Cognitive Task in Healthy
Young People
Females
S. T. Francis, PhD, K. Head,
BSc(Hons), P. G. Morris, PhD,
and I. A. Macdonald, PhD

Presented by:
Irving F. Rabasa
 Background
Cognitive
Abilities:
Perception
Attention
Memory
Motor Skills

Task A Task B
Language
Task A
Switch
Visual and Spatial Processing
Paradig
Executive Functions
Task B Switc
m Task A
h Cost
Task B
 Background
Cocoa
C0C0A PR0P3RT1E5
Properties
Health Benefits and
Flavonoids: Antioxidant Effects
Flavonoid

Flavanols: Increase Blood

Flow Isoflavonoi
d

Processin
g
Losse
s

Neoflavon
oid
 Background
Blood Oxygenation Level Dependent
(BLOD) response
Function of:
Cerebral Blood Flow (CBF)
Changes

Cerebral Blood Volume

Cerebral Metabolic Rate of Oxygen Consumpt

Brain Activity Functional MRI

Changes in blood
flow
 Objective

Effect of flavanols in BLOD

response to task switching.
 Method
Migraines
Stroke
Hypertension
Diabetes
Neurological or Vascular
disease
Dyslexia
Tobacco consumption
n = 16 (18 30Y)
Right handed
Refrain from:
Normal vision
Alcohol
Normal color vision
Caffeine
Roman alphabet as first
Medication
language
12 h before
Low caffeine intake (<120
Single Stimuli Task (Pre-
trainig)

Vowel
Consonant
Odd
Even
Number

Left Right
 Double Stimuli Task (Training and
Experiment)
Letter +
Digit
Letter +
Digit

Training until:

Left Right Error <5%

Consonant Vowel
Even Odd
Number Number
 fRMI Test
4 days prior to the visit at same hour
High Flavonol 3 s ea. Pair Total Time
172 mg/drink 15 s ea. 18 min
Block 5
5
Color
No Color
Alternati
Changing
ng
Pairs
Pairs
n=5
n = 20 n = 20
12 s
Low Flavonol
2B-CB Test
13 mg/drink Reaction Time
Error Rate
Last, 1.5 hr before the test Heart Rate

14 Days

Cerebral Blood Flow after High Flavonol

intake
 Limitations
No blank
Stress level during the test day
Extra components present in the drink
Composition difference between drinks
Diet of each individual
Not the same subjects for the fRMI and
CBF?
(18 30Y) & (24 31Y)
 Results
Numerically slower response times for the
switch condition
No significance differences in response times
between drinks
Overall reaction times indicates no sing of
fatigue/learning during the tests
Heart rate significant increase for both drinks
in switch condition
No significant difference in heart rate
between drinks
Cerebral blood flow increased after high
flavonol drink intake.
Peak at 2 hours post intake
 Media Claims
Observed increased blood flow to the
brain after the women drank a cocoa
beverage high in flavanol antioxidants
for five days
Once the subject drinks a high flavanol
coca drink for 5 days, the CBF will
increase?
Permanently?
Only after the 5 intakes days?
No response after the first intake?
Thanks!