Association among salivary alpha-amylase activity and executive functioning in healthy children
Maldonado-Montero, Enrique Francisco,López, Cristina,Magarin, Alba,Álamo, Ana,Ortiz, Paula,Muñoz, Marina,Garcia, Silvia,Martínez-Escribano, Ana,Marín, Laura,Engüix Armada, Alfredo
- Published
- 2017-10-01
- Language
- en
Abstract
Salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) is employed in basic research as a surrogate and non-invasive marker of the activity of Autonomous Nervous System (ANS) and Adrenomedullar System (AMS). In particular, sAA has showed a statistically sig- nificant association with levels of peripheral noradrenaline under acute psychoso- cial stress conditions in young and healthy participants. In this study, our aim was directed to describe the relation among sAA and cognitive performance in differ- ent executive tasks in a sample composed by 69 healthy children (45 boys). The tasks employed to assess executive functioning belong to the ENFEN battery (which measures different aspects of executive functions through four subtests: Phonologic and Semantic Fluency, Trail Making Test, Towers, and Interference). Saliva samples were obtained at baseline (10 minutes before the start of neuro- psychological assessment), just one minute before and just one minute after the end of the last subtest of ENFEN. Our statistical analyses showed a direct and sig- nificant association among sAA and scores in Phonologic Fluency, Trail Making, Towers and Interference subtests of ENFEN after controlling the effect of BMI. These results show a positive lineal association among sAA and executive behav- ior in healthy children. We discuss these findings in relation with those studies what have suggested a main role of the noradrenergic central action mediated via Locus Coeruleus-Noradrenaline System (LC-NA System) in the regulation of executive behavior.
Full text
ASSOCIATION AMONG SALIVARY ALPHA-AMYLASE ACTIVITY AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING IN HEALTHY CHILDREN Enrique F. Maldonado1, Cristina López1, Alba Magarín1, Ana Álamo1, Paula Ortíz1, Marina Muñoz1, Silvia García1, Ana Martínez-Escribano2, Laura Marín2 & Alfredo Enguix2. 1University of Malaga, 2Virgen de la Victoria Universitary Hospital Descriptors: alpha-amylase, executive functions, children Salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) is employed in basic research as a surrogate and non-invasive marker of the activity of Autonomous Nervous System (ANS) and Adrenomedullar System (AMS). In particular, sAA has showed a statistically significant association with levels of peripheral noradrenaline under acute psychosocial stress conditions in young and healthy participants. In this study, our aim was directed to describe the relation among sAA and cognitive performance in different executive tasks in a sample composed by 69 healthy children (45 boys). The tasks employed to assess executive functioning belong to the ENFEN battery (which measures different aspects of executive functions through four subtests: Phonologic and Semantic Fluency, Trail Making Test, Towers, and Interference). Saliva samples were obtained at baseline (10 minutes before the start of neuropsychological assessment), just one minute before and just one minute after the end of the last subtest of ENFEN. Our statistical analyses showed a direct and significant association among sAA and scores in Phonologic Fluency, Trail Making, Towers and Interference subtests of ENFEN after controlling the effect of BMI. These results show a positive lineal association among sAA and executive behavior in healthy children. We discuss these findings in relation with those studies what have suggested a main role of the noradrenergic central action mediated via Locus Coeruleus-Noradrenaline System (LC-NA System) in the regulation of executive behavior. !
