There is still little research examining the relationship between water consumption in school and specific cognitive performance. The aim of this cluster-randomized intervention CogniDROP trial was to investigate the short-term effects of drinking water during the morning on executive functions. The participants were from the 5th and 6th grade of a comprehensive school in Germany (14 classes, n = 250, 61.6% boys). The classes were randomly divided into an intervention group (an education on healthy drinking behavior and a promotion of water consumption) and a control group. A battery of computerized tasks (Switch Task, 2-Back Task, Corsi Block-Tapping Task and Flanker Task) was used to test executive functions. Urine color and thirst were evaluated to check the hydration level. Physical activity over the past 24 h was measured using GT3X ActiGraph. A non-linear relationship was observed between the amount of drinking water and executive performance. Consuming water up to 1000 mL (or up to 50% of Total Water Intake) had benefits during memory tasks. Urine color and number of steps on the study day correlated with water consumed. The results suggest that a water-friendly environment supports school-aged children in adequate water intake resulting in better cognitive performance, especially short-term memory.

This study investigated the relationship between different levels of physical fitness and cognitive functions in boys and girls. Schoolchildren from a comprehensive school in Germany (n = 211, 39% girls, 5th and 6th grade) attended regular or sport-focused classes with different numbers of physical education (PE) classes per week (3 vs. 5–6 h). Performance of physical fitness was tested according to endurance, strength, speed, coordination and flexibility. Four computerized instruments (switch task, 2-back task, Corsi block-tapping task and flanker task) were used to test cognitive functions. Additional predictors, sex, age, PE class, Body Mass Index and physical activity, were included in analyses. The results showed that physical fitness was associated with improved attention and memory functions in children, although the associations were mostly small. After Bonferroni correction, mainly coordination was related to improved cognition. Physical activity, i.e., step counts, PE class and sex were associated with specific cognitive outcomes. These findings may be important for effective health promotion, and supporting children’s education in the school environment. Sex-specific physical activities in school could potentially lead to greater cognitive benefits in children. Randomized trials are needed to replicate these results.

Observation and perception errors in combination with lack of attention explain the majority of all falls in skiing. This associates vision and vision deficiencies with safety aspects in skiing. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of reduced visual acuity on the reaction time of a skier in safety-critical skiing situations. For this purpose, field experiments were conducted in the 1995/96 winter season. The subjects had to pass over a prepared ledge in the terrain and react to simulated obstacles, which were partly blocking the course. All experiments were video recorded; in total more than 220 trials were conducted. We tested three different types of obstacles: ice patches, a standing skier, and a skier just starting to move. Two experimental conditions were examined, normal visual acuity and a reduced visual acuity. The acuity reduction to 20% of normal was achieved by the use of special goggles. From the videotape, the subjects' time for an evasive action was determined and statistically analyzed. No significant change of the reaction time with reduced visual acuity could be seen for the bigger obstacles i.e., the standing skier and the moving skier. However, with the simulated ice patches, the increase of the reaction time was significant (p = 0.01) with an average increase of 35%. From the obtained results it is concluded that skiers not wearing their corrective lenses may feel safer than they really are. They can perceive larger, stationary, or moving objects, however they might not be aware of the risk from low-contrast obstacles.

No abstract

Surveys undertaken at the evaluation center for skiing accidents run by a German sports insurance company show that approximately 80% of all skiing accidents are due to observation errors, perception errors or inattentiveness in conjunction with skiing errors. Therefore, the efficiency of the eyes plays a vital role in skiing. Between 1995 and 1996 the following investigations were carried out into aspects of visual and perceptive acuity on the ski slopes: • Registration of the eyesight of leisure-time skiers. • Tests on the influence of visual acuity on the ability to recognize potential danger spots on the slope. • Tests on the influence of different color filters on eyesight (laboratory tests) and perceptive acuity on the ski runs (field tests). Results: In 28.8% of the skiers tested optical correction of visual acuity was needed. The skiers were tested under those conditions in which they are skiing. In stereoscopic depth perception, which is also of great importance, for example, in assessing distances, deficits were present in 19.7% of the skiers tested. Approximately 39.7% of the tested skiers wear either glasses or contact lenses in daily life. However, only about 65.5% of them wear these on the slopes, too. Visual acuity and depth perception have a crucial influence on the ability to recognize potential danger spots on a ski slope. With a reduction in visual acuity, recognition was found to undergo a clear-cut decrease, with potential danger spots being recognized less efficiently and at a later time. An improvement in visual power through filters of various colors was recorded only in unfavorable light conditions and poor visibility (dim light, shade, fog, etc.). On average, more danger spots were distinctly recognized with yellow goggles than with colorless filters.