Effects of a Cocoa Shot on the Human Brain 2
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
The Hershey Company is interested in investigating the effects of various chocolate beverages on brain physiology and cognitive function. The main substances in the drinks that are known to influence the brain are caffeine and related chemicals such as theobromine. Caffeine and chemicals related to caffeine are all naturally occurring and all potentially alter brain physiology. This study will evaluate changes in brain blood flow and cognition following the consumption of drinks with various combinations of the Primary Ingredients. The study proposed here will evaluate ingredients in a 4-arm cross-over double-blind design in an attempt to understand the differential effects of these compounds in chocolate drinks.
Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
---|---|
Placebo Comparator: no caffeine & no theobromine Drink 1 |
Dietary Supplement: no caffeine
Dietary Supplement: no theobromine
|
Experimental: no caffeine & low theobromine Drink 2 |
Dietary Supplement: no caffeine
Dietary Supplement: low theobromine
|
Experimental: no caffeine & high theobromine Drink 3 |
Dietary Supplement: no caffeine
Dietary Supplement: high theobromine
|
Experimental: high caffeine & no theobromine Drink 4 |
Dietary Supplement: high caffeine
Dietary Supplement: no theobromine
|
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Change in Working Memory (% correct) [Baseline, 1.5 hour and 3.5 hours post beverage]
N-Back Task
- Change in Response Time (milliseconds) [Baseline, 1.5 hour and 3.5 hours post beverage]
Choice ResponseTime Task
- Change in Short Term Memory (# correct) [Baseline, 1.5 hour and 3.5 hours post beverage]
Hopkins Verbal Learning Task (HVLT)
- Change in Mood (change in Likert scale score) [Baseline, 1.5 hour and 3.5 hours post beverage]
Profile of Mood Status (POMS)
- Change in Attention (% accuracy) [Baseline, 1.5 hour and 3.5 hours post beverage]
Eriksen Flanker Task
- Change in Executive Function (# correct) [Baseline, 1.5 hour and 3.5 hours post beverage]
Stroop Task
Secondary Outcome Measures
- Change in Brain Blood Flow (ml/g/min) [1 hour post beverage]
Non-invasive brain perfusion measured with arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging
- % Change in Heart Rate (beats/minute) [before, 1 hour, and 3 hour post beverage]
Pulse
- % Change in Blood Pressure (mm Hg) [before, 1 hour, and 3 hour post beverage]
- Change in Respiration (breaths/minute) [before, 1 hour, and 3 hour post beverage]
Other Outcome Measures
- % Change in Brain Connectivity (network degree) [1 hour post beverage]
Measures of functional brain connectivity based on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging.
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
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Consume 200-500 mg caffeine daily
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Willing and capable of signing the informed consent
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Willing to attend 4 testing sessions that will take 4-6 hours each AND will be at least 10 days apart
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Willing to abstain from caffeine for 16 hours before each testing session
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Willing to and able to have MRIs
Exclusion Criteria:
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As determined from the medical screening session
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active neurological dysfunction (such as a major Axis I psychopathology, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, prior history of stroke, epilepsy, or serious central nervous system (CNS) trauma)
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attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
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migraines
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hypertension
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diabetes
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peripheral vascular disease
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taking vasoactive medications (such as anti-hypertensive medications)
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depression that has not been on a stable medical treatment for at least 4 weeks
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Pregnancy
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Allergy to chocolate, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, milk, wheat
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Color blindness
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Individuals who are or potentially may be cognitively or psychologically impaired, or who otherwise have a limited capacity to provide consent
Contacts and Locations
Locations
Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Wake Forest University Health Sciences | Winston-Salem | North Carolina | United States | 27157 |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- The Hershey Company
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Paul J Laurient, MD, PhD, Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
None provided.- IRB00026868