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Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Review article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Review article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Diurnal variation in variables related to cognitive performance
T2 - A systematic review
AU - Munnilari, Madhavi
AU - Bommasamudram, Tulasiram
AU - Judy, Easow
AU - Tod, David
AU - Varamenti, Evdokia
AU - Edwards, Ben
AU - Ravindrakumar, Aishwarya
AU - Gallagher, Chloe
AU - Pullinger, Samuel
PY - 2024/3/1
Y1 - 2024/3/1
N2 - PurposeThe aim of this review was to assess current evidence regarding changes in cognitive function according to time-of-day (TOD) and assess the key components of research design related to manuscripts of chronobiological nature.MethodsAn English-language literature search revealed 523 articles through primary database searches, and 1868 via organization searches/citation searching. The inclusion criteria were met by eleven articles which were included in the review. The inclusion criteria set were healthy adult males, a minimum of two timepoints including morning and evening, cognitive measures of performance, and peer-reviewed academic paper.ResultsIt was established that cognitive performance varies with TOD and the degree of difference is highly dependent on the type of cognitive task with differences ranging from 9.0 to 34.2% for reaction time, 7.3% for alertness, and 7.8 to 40.3% for attention. The type of cognitive function was a determining factor as to whether the performance was better in the morning, evening, or afternoon.ConclusionAlthough some studies did not establish TOD differences, reaction time and levels of accuracy were highest in the evening. This implies that cognitive processes are complex, and existing research is contradictory. Some studies or cognitive variables did not show any measurable TOD effects, which may be due to differences in methodology, subjects involved, testing protocols, and confounding factors. No studies met all requirements related to chronobiological research, highlighting the issues around methodology. Therefore, future research must use a rigorous, approach, minimizing confounding factors that are specific to examinations of TOD.
AB - PurposeThe aim of this review was to assess current evidence regarding changes in cognitive function according to time-of-day (TOD) and assess the key components of research design related to manuscripts of chronobiological nature.MethodsAn English-language literature search revealed 523 articles through primary database searches, and 1868 via organization searches/citation searching. The inclusion criteria were met by eleven articles which were included in the review. The inclusion criteria set were healthy adult males, a minimum of two timepoints including morning and evening, cognitive measures of performance, and peer-reviewed academic paper.ResultsIt was established that cognitive performance varies with TOD and the degree of difference is highly dependent on the type of cognitive task with differences ranging from 9.0 to 34.2% for reaction time, 7.3% for alertness, and 7.8 to 40.3% for attention. The type of cognitive function was a determining factor as to whether the performance was better in the morning, evening, or afternoon.ConclusionAlthough some studies did not establish TOD differences, reaction time and levels of accuracy were highest in the evening. This implies that cognitive processes are complex, and existing research is contradictory. Some studies or cognitive variables did not show any measurable TOD effects, which may be due to differences in methodology, subjects involved, testing protocols, and confounding factors. No studies met all requirements related to chronobiological research, highlighting the issues around methodology. Therefore, future research must use a rigorous, approach, minimizing confounding factors that are specific to examinations of TOD.
KW - Circadian rhythms
KW - Cognitive performance
KW - Diurnal variation
KW - ROB
KW - ROBINS-I
KW - Review
KW - Time-of-day
U2 - 10.1007/s11325-023-02895-0
DO - 10.1007/s11325-023-02895-0
M3 - Review article
C2 - 37589927
VL - 28
SP - 495
EP - 510
JO - Sleep and Breathing
JF - Sleep and Breathing
IS - 1
ER -