Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Branched Chain Amino Acids on Psychomotor Performance

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Branched Chain Amino Acids in Clinical Nutrition

Part of the book series: Nutrition and Health ((NH))

  • 1398 Accesses

Abstract

Psychomotor skill is the human ability to respond with maximal speed and accuracy to external events or goals. It depends on several brain functions, including cognitive functions, attention, concentration, verbal and spatial working memory and information processing speed. The psychomotor performance is assessed by lots of neuropsychological tests, which are directed to evaluate either the single brain function or the global accuracy and time of the response. These tests, especially combined with functional magnetic resonance of the brain provide the useful tool for evaluation of the status of patient with neurological and psychiatric diseases and to investigate the effects of some agents, such as food components, on the brain functions in patients and healthy subjects.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 159.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Fernstrom JD. Branched-chain amino acids and brain function. J Nutr. 2005;135:1539S–46.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Bastone A, Micheli A, Beghi E, et al. The imbalance of brain large-chain amino acid availability in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients treated with high doses of branched-chain amino acids. Neurochem Int. 1995;27:467–72.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Borasio GD, Miller RG. Clinical characteristics and management of ALS. Semin Neurol. 2001;21:155–66.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Parton M, Mitsumoto H, Leigh PN. Amino acids for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neuron disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2003;CD003457.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Newsholme EA, Blomstrand E. Branched-chain amino acids and central fatigue. J Nutr. 2006;136:274S–6.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Anticevic A, Gancsos M, Murray JD, et al. NMDA receptor function in large-scale anticorrelated neural systems with implications for cognition and schizophrenia. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012;109:16720–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Newsholme EA, Acworth IN, Blomstrand E. Amino acids, brain neurotransmitters and a functional link between muscle and brain that is important in sustained exercise. In: Advances in myochemistry. London: John Libbey Eurotext; 1987. p. 127–33.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Ahlborg G, Felig P, Hagenfeldt L, et al. Substrate turnover during prolonged exercise in man. Splanchnic and leg metabolism of glucose, free fatty acids, and amino acids. J Clin Invest. 1974;53:1080–90.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Strüder HK, Weicker H. Physiology and pathophysiology of the serotonergic system and its implications on mental and physical performance. Part II. Int J Sports Med. 2001;22:482–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Wilson WM, Maughan RJ. Evidence for a possible role of 5-hydroxytryptamine in the genesis of fatigue in man: administration of paroxetine, a 5-HT re-uptake inhibitor, reduces the capacity to perform prolonged exercise. Exp Physiol. 1992;77:921–4.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Davis JM, Bailey SP, Jackson DA, et al. Effects of a serotonin (5-HT) agonist during prolonged exercise to fatigue in humans. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1993;25:S78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Davis JM, Alderson NL, Welsh RS. Serotonin and central nervous system fatigue, nutritional considerations. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000;72(2 Suppl):573S–8.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. van Hall G, Raaymakers JS, Saris WH, et al. Ingestion of branched-chain amino acids and tryptophan during sustained exercise in man, failure to affect performance. J Physiol. 1995;486:789–94.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Meeusen R, Watson P, Dvorak J. The brain and fatigue: new op portunities for nutritional interventions? J Sports Sci. 2006;24:773–82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Varnier M, Sarto P, Martines D, et al. Effect of infusing branched-chain amino acid during incremental exercise with reduced muscle glycogen content. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol. 1994;69:26–31.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Blomstrand E. A role for branched-chain amino acids in reducing central fatigue. J Nutr. 2006;136:544S–7.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Blomstrand E, Hassmén P, Ekblom B, et al. Administration of branched-chain amino acids during sustained exercise–effects on performance and on plasma concentration of some amino acids. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol. 1991;63:83–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Blomstrand E, Hassmén P, Newsholme EA. Effect of branched-chain amino acid supplementation on mental performance. Acta Physiol Scand. 1991;143:225–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Blomstrand E, Hassmén P, Ek S, et al. Influence of ingestinga solution of branched-chain amino acids on perceived exertion during exercise. Acta Physiol Scand. 1997;159:41–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Hassmén P, Blomstrand E, Ekblom B, et al. Branched-chain amino acidsupplementation during 30-km competitive run: mood and cognitive performance. Nutrition. 1994;10:405–10.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Mikulski T, Ziemba A, Chmura J, et al. The effect of supplementation with branched chain amino acids (BCAA) on psychomotor performance during graded exercise in human subjects. Biol Sport. 2002;19:295–301.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Chmura J, Nazar K, Kaciuba-Usciłko H. Choice reaction time during graded exercise in relation to blood lactate and plasma catecholamine threshold. Int J Sports Med. 1994;15:172–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Wisnik P, Chmura J, Ziemba AW, et al. The effect of branched chain amino acids on psychomotor performance during treadmill exercise of changing intensity simulating a soccer game. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2011;36:856–62.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Fernstrom JD. Large neutral amino acids: dietary effects on brain neurochemistry and function. Amino Acids. 2013;45(3):419–30.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Gijsman HJ, Scarnà A, Harmer CJ, et al. A dose-finding study on the effects of branch chain amino acids on surrogate markers of brain dopamine function. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2002;160:192–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Scarnà A, McTavish SF, Cowen PJ, et al. The effects of a branched chain amino acid mixture supplemented with tryptophan on biochemical indices of neurotransmitter function and decision-making. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2005;179:761–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Sevy S, Hassoun Y, Bechara A, et al. Emotion-based decision-making in healthy subjects: short-term effects of reducing dopamine levels. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2006;188:228–35.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Military Institute of Aviation Medicine, 54 Krasinskiego, Warsaw, 01-755, Poland

    Krystyna Nazar M.D., Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Krystyna Nazar M.D., Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Krystyna Nazar M.D., Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Intensive Care, Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom

    Rajkumar Rajendram

  2. Diabetes and Nutritional Sciences, Kings College London, London, United Kingdom

    Victor R. Preedy

  3. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom

    Vinood B. Patel

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Nazar, K. (2015). Branched Chain Amino Acids on Psychomotor Performance. In: Rajendram, R., Preedy, V., Patel, V. (eds) Branched Chain Amino Acids in Clinical Nutrition. Nutrition and Health. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1914-7_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1914-7_8

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-1913-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-1914-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation