Several animal studies have investigated the relationship between antioxidants/flavonoids and cognitive function.
In spatial memory tasks, researchers in 2005 have found antioxidant diets can enhance the aged rat’s performance in working memory. The antioxidant diets include blueberries.
Spatial memory performance correlated significantly with the level of cortical anthocyanins present in the brain areas that control memory and leaning process, specifically the cerebellum, cortex, hippocampus and striatum.
The antioxidants enhanced memory performance and in some cases, reversed memory deficits.
Spatial working memories are critical to everyday navigation. Simple tasks such as locating one’s key before leaving home and more complex tasks such as finding a new route to avoid traffic congestion all depend on the navigator’s ability to recall spatial memories of those environments.
Blueberry and spatial working memory
