A Study on the Effects of Brain Functions Before and After Eating by Difference in the Number of Chews

Abstract

The sensation of drowsiness experienced around 2 PM, referred to as post-lunch dip (PLD), induces a decline in brain functions including attentiveness and levels of alertness. Such transient brain function declines instigated by PLD have been identified as potential catalysts for human errors. Therefore, it is important to demonstrate optimal intervention methods and preventive techniques to remedy this phenomenon. Our research experiment examined the influence of variations in mastication frequency during white rice consumption on blood glucose levels and event-related potential (ERP). Our study was conducted on fifteen young male participants. The measurements comprised of P300, CNV, blood glucose levels, and a questionnaire on sleepiness. We recorded ERP pre-consumption, immediately post-consumption, and 40 and 80 minutes after the meal. We employed packed rice as the dietary load and controlled the mastication frequency per mouthful at either 10 or 40 chews. Our results indicated that at 80 minutes post-consumption, when the mastication frequency was 10 chews compared to 40, there was an extended P300 latency, reduction in late CNV, increased reaction time, and decreased accuracy rate (p<0.05). These findings suggest that intensifying masticatory activity could effectively mitigate the transient decline in brain functions caused by PLD.