Physical Demands, Mental Performance and Food Components in Military Settings

摘要

The relationship between physical demands, cognitive functioning, and food components is still an interesting field for research. For the Dutch Defence Organization it is important that this relationship is investigated with a special focus on military settings. Recently, attempts have been made to describe these settings in so called scenarios. However, to determine the effects of an intervention, such as food components, it is necessary to design standard test protocols. This study emphasizes the limiting conditions for these protocols and how to elaborate them in future. Method: Investigating the literature, factors were determined that play a significant role in the relationship between physical load and mental functioning. Next, realistic scenarios were selected and described, based on physical, psychological and operational demands. Using these demands a core-set of cognitive abilities was defined and performance tests were selected and further elaborated. A comparable trajectory was followed for the relationship between food components and cognitive functioning. An inventory was made consisting of food components having an effect on mental performance and a further selection was performed with respect to military settings. Results: It appears unfeasible to investigate all possible factors considering the relationship between physical and mental performance. Selections were made and it is proposed to apply a 2 x 2 factorial design, incorporating physical load (low vs. high) and task duration (short vs. long). Cognitive tasks should aim at vigilance, working memory, logical reasoning, complex information processing, and psychomotor behaviour. Food components that are considered for intervention studies are carbohydrates, caffeine, and alpha-lactalbumin. Conclusion: Based on this report a research protocol can be designed to determine the sensitivity and magnitude of the effects with respect to the relationship between physical load and mental performance.