Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
10.3390/sym11111364
Title: | The Face of Early Cognitive Decline? Shape and Asymmetry Predict Choice Reaction Time Independent of Age, Diet or Exercise |
Authors: | Brown, William Ušacka, Agnese |
Keywords: | developmental stability;fluctuating symmetry;face shape variations;geometric morphometrics;choice reaction time;diet;polyunsaturated fatty acids omega-3;physical activity;early cognitive decline;1.6 Biological sciences;3.3 Health sciences;5.1 Psychology;1.2 Computer and information sciences;1.1. Scientific article indexed in Web of Science and/or Scopus database |
Issue Date: | 2019 |
Citation: | Brown , W & Ušacka , A 2019 , ' The Face of Early Cognitive Decline? Shape and Asymmetry Predict Choice Reaction Time Independent of Age, Diet or Exercise ' , Symmetry , vol. 11 , no. 11 , 1364 . https://doi.org/10.3390/sym11111364 |
Abstract: | Slower reaction time is a measure of cognitive decline and can occur as early as 24 years of age. We are interested if developmental stability predicts cognitive performance independent of age and lifestyle (e.g., diet and exercise). Developmental stability is the latent capacity to buffer ontogenetic stressors and is measured by low fluctuating asymmetry (FA). FA is random—with respect to the largest side—departures from perfect morphological symmetry. The degree of asymmetry has been associated with physical fitness, morbidity, and mortality in many species, including humans. We expected that low FA (independent of age, diet and exercise) will predict faster choice reaction time (i.e., correct keyboard responses to stimuli appearing in a random location on a computer monitor). Eighty-eight university students self-reported their fish product consumption, exercise, had their faces 3D scanned and cognitive performance measured. Unexpectedly, increased fish product consumption was associated with worsened choice reaction time. Facial asymmetry and multiple face shape variation parameters predicted slower choice reaction time independent of sex, age, diet or exercise. Future work should develop longitudinal interventions to minimize early cognitive decline among vulnerable people (e.g., those who have experienced ontogenetic stressors affecting optimal neurocognitive development). |
DOI: | 10.3390/sym11111364 |
ISSN: | 2073-8994 |
Appears in Collections: | Research outputs from Pure / Zinātniskās darbības rezultāti no ZDIS Pure |
Files in This Item:
File | Size | Format | |
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The_Face_of_Early_Cognitive_Decline.pdf | 2.64 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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