Parasympathetic and Sympathetic Tone

Abstract

In several nutritional neuroscience projects, W. David Crews III investigated the impact of antioxidants and dietary interventions on neurocognitive performance. In these investigations, memory and executive functions were assessed along with blood assays and measures of cardiovascular functions, including heart rate. Neurocognitive and psychophysiological effects were found subsequent to the use of Ginkgo biloba, cranberry juice versus placebo, and other putative antioxidant sources. A favorite investigation in this line of research was undoubtedly “the Hershey’s dark chocolate project.” One thousand five hundred pounds of Hershey’s antioxidant-rich chocolate, a placebo product, and 800 pounds of Hershey’s Cocoa arrived on the loading docks at Virginia Tech’s Roanoke Higher Education Center, formerly the home of Norfolk and Southern Railways executives. The rich treasure was carefully divided into packets for the participants to add to their dietary regime.