The Effect of the Date Palm on the Increase of Short-term Memory

and Concentration of Learning

Farida Linda Sari Siregar, Febrina Oktavinola Kaban

Lecturer of Maternity and Pediatric Nursing Departmen Faculty of Nursing Universitas Sumatera Utara

Keywords: The Date Palm, Short-term Memory, Concentration of Learning.

Abstract : The fruit is known as the palm fruit is usually consumed as sweets, especially in the month of fasting.Sugar

that is safe for children and can be used directly for metabolism, namely sugar in the form of disaccharides.

Types this research uses quasi experimental research design using pre post test design. In this study, 20

students of Elementary School No. 065014 will be given the date palm (100 gr/day) during 60 days before

the lesson starts every morning. The bivariate analysis used in this study is inferential statistical analysis

namely paired t-test. Based on the results of the study a mean value of short term memory’s after being

given the date palm was 12.40, and the mean value of short term memory’s before taking the date palm 7.90

( p = 0.01). Based on the results of the study a mean value of concentration of learning after being given the

date palm was 5.70, and the mean value of concentration of learning before taking the date palm was 4.25 (p

= 0.03). Conclusion of this study is that the date palm can increase short-term memory and concentration of

learning for student.

1 INTRODUCTION

The date palm which has the Latin name Phoenix

dactylifera a palm tree in the genus Phoenix. The

fruit is known as the palm fruit is usually consumed

as sweets, especially in the month of fasting. Sugar

that is safe for children and can be used directly for

metabolism, namely sugar in the form of

disaccharides. Blood glucose is vital for the brain to

function properly, among others expressed in

memory ability. Dates have a high sugar content and

generally come from glucose and fructose.

Memory is the individual's ability to store

information and that information can be recalled to

be used some time later. Short-term memory is a

temporary storage events or items received in a short

time, ie less than a few minutes, usually even shorter

(a few seconds). Short-term memory is not

permanent, the storage will be erased in a short time.

Short-term memory is characterized by recollection

about 5 to 10 items for a few seconds to a few

minutes (Atkinson, 2011). People who can

remember well generally have good learning

abilities as well.

Research by Soenggono (2008) conducted on 30

female students, aged between 19-23 years who

were given a breakfast of porridge, reported a

significant increase in blood glucose levels and

memory were given before and after treatment (p

<0.05), and found a correlation between elevated

blood sugar levels with memory (p <0.05).

Learning concentration is one of the internal

problems experienced by students in the learning

process. Learning concentration means the ability to

focus attention on the lesson. Concentration of

attention is focused on the content of learning

material and the process of obtaining it (Dimyati,

2006).

Individuals are allowed to be able to store

information that they receive all the time using

memory. Without memory, the individual is

impossible to reflect on himself, because self-

understanding is very dependent on a continuous

awareness, which can only be accomplished in the

presence of memory. In normal circumstances 90%

of the energy required to maintain the ions across the

cell membranes of the brain and deliver electrical

impulses. Glucose needs an average of about 5.5 mg

/ 100 g of brain (77 mg / min for the entire brain)

(Ganong, 2009). Learning concentration can be

concluded as something that is important to have in

learning activities, where individuals can focus their

attention and mind on each learning implementation

Siregar, F. and Kaban, F.

The Effect of the Date Palm on the Increase of Short-term Memor y and Concentration of Learning.

DOI: 10.5220/0010092708290832

In Proceedings of the International Conference of Science, Technology, Engineering, Environmental and Ramiﬁcation Researches (ICOSTEERR 2018) - Research in Industry 4.0, pages

829-832

ISBN: 978-989-758-449-7

829

well so that they are able to understand each material

given. Cognitive development in children progresses

from what they see to the reason why the assessment

is given. The ability to remember symbols and use

memory deposits about past experiences. One of the

main cognitive tasks is mastering the concept of

conservation (Wong, 2008).

This study aims to determine whether or not the

effect of the palm of the short-term memory and

concentration of student learning. The hypothesis of

this study is there is an influence of the date palm

against short-term memory and concentration of

student learning.

2 METHODS

Types this research uses quasi experimental research

design using pre post test design. In this study, 20

students of Elementary School No. 065014 will be

given the date palm (100 gr/day) during 60 days

before the lesson starts every morning. Dried the

date palm Madinah in 100 g based on laobratory test

contains water 11.75%, fat 6,8%, fiber 8,1%, and

sugar 55,23%. Short-term memory was measured

using digit test span forward & backward Wechsler

Intelligence Scale For Children - Revised (WISC-R).

The concentration of learning was measured using

observation sheet of concentration of learning. The

bivariate analysis used in this study is inferential

statistical analysis namely paired t-test.

This study was approved by the ethics committee

of the faculty of nursing, University of Sumatera

Utara, and in accordance with the requirements set

out in national guidelines for clinical trials and apply

similar research.

3 RESULTS

3.1 Short Term Memory

Based on the results of the study showed the average

short-term memory of students before being given

the date palm with a reverse number = 3.89

numbers. A minimum value of 1 number and a

maximum value of 7 digits. Average short-term

memory of students before being given the date

palm with advanced numbers = 4.05 numbers. A

minimum value of 0 number a maximum value of 7

digits.

Table 1: Short-term memory before being given the date

palm.

Short-term memory Mean SD Min-Max

Rows of advanced

numbers

Rows of numbers

backwards

4.05

3.89

2.164

1.309

0-7

1-7

Based on the results of the study showed the

average short-term memory of students in the

intervention group after being given the date palm

with a number of numbers backwards = 5.90

numbers. A minimum value of 4 digits and a

maximum value of 7 digits. The average short-term

memory of students before being given the date

palm with a row of advanced numbers = 6.50

numbers. A minimum value of 5 digits and a

maximum value of 7 digits.

Table 2: Short-term memory after being given the date

palm.

Short-term memory Mean SD Min-

Max

Rows of advanced

numbers

Rows of numbers

backwards

6.50

5.90

0.607

1.021

5-7

4-7

3.2 Concentration of Learning

Based on the results of the study concentration of

students before being given the date palm showed

the focus of the views of the majority of students

directed towards the other (looking left/right) as

many as 9 students (45%), the body language of

students who played with stationery as many as 8

people (40%), and attitude in rowdy/noisy

class/control as many as 14 people (70%).

Table 3: Student concentration before being given the date

palm

Concentration of Learning f %

Focus of view

 Focus on the teacher / instructor

 Focus on the whiteboard / props

 Going to another direction (looking left /

right)

Body language

• Sit upright

• Sit in a lean position

 Sleepy

ICOSTEERR 2018 - International Conference of Science, Technology, Engineering, Environmental and Ramiﬁcation Researches

830

• Play with stationery 8 40

Attitudes in class

 Calm (does not cause noise)

• Crowd / noisy / control

Based on the results of the study concentration of

students after being given the date palm showed the

focus of the views of the majority of students focus

on the teacher/instructor as many as 14 students

(70%), the body language of students who sit upright

as many as 15 people (70%), and attitude in class

who calm (does not cause noise) as many as 20

people (100%).

Table 4: Student concentration after being given the date

palm

Concentration of Learning

f %

Focus of view

 Focus on the teacher / instructor

 Focus on the whiteboard / props

 Going to another direction (looking left /

right)

Body language

• Sit upright

• Sit in a lean position

 Sleepy

• Play with stationery

Attitudes in class

 Calm (does not cause noise)

• Crowd / noisy / control

100

3.3 The Effect of the Date Palm on the

Increase of Short-term Memory

Based on the results of the study a mean value of

short term memory’s after being given the date

palm was 12.40, and the mean value of short term

memory’s before taking the date palm 7.90 (value of

p = 0.01), it can be concluded that the date palm

effects can increase short-term memory.

Table 5: The Effect of The date palm on the increase of

short-term memory

Groups Mean SD Mean

Diffrence

P Value

Pretest

Posttest

7.90

12.40

2.882

1.273

4.500 0.01

3.4 The Effect of the Date Palm on the

Increase of Concentration of

Learning

Based on the results of the study a mean value of

concentration of learning after being given the date

palm was 5.70, and the mean value of concentration

of learning before taking the date palm was 4.25

(value of p = 0.03), it can be concluded that the date

palm effects can increase concentration of learning,

it can be concluded that the date palm effects can

increase concentration of learning.

Table 6: The Effect of the date palm on the increase of

concentration of learning

Groups Mean SD Mean

Diffrence

P Value

Pretest

Posttest

4.25

5.70

1.182

0.801

1.050 0.03

4 DISCUSSION

The increase in short-term memory due to the main

content in the date palm are simple sugars. Type of

simple sugar has a low glycemic index at the date

that is glucose and fructose. Glucose and fructose is

involved in supplying energy to the brain easily.

Glucose and fructose are quickly absorbed by the

intestine without digested by the enzymes in the

intestine, taken blood flow through the blood-brain

barrier rapidly and then metabolized to perform the

function of the brain, one of which is learning and

memory (Magistretti, Pellerin, & Martin, 2007).

Brain, neural networks and other red blood cells

require a constant supply of blood glucose. The

brain requires 150 grams of glucose per day. Brain

and other tissues to oxidize glucose to CO2 and H2O

(Marks, Marks & Smith, 2000).

Research by (Subhash, 2015) conducted APP-

transgenic mice from the age of 4 months were fed

custom-mix diets (pellets) containing 2% and 4%

date fruits reported that significant memory deficits,

increased anxiety-related behavior, and severe

impairment in spatial learning ability, position

discrimination learning ability and motor

coordination.

The Effect of the Date Palm on the Increase of Short-term Memory and Concentration of Learning

831

The results of the study by (Sitohang, 2015)

were 80 elementary school students who were given

100 grams the date of palm every day for 3 days

showed there were significant differences in posttest

values in the intervention and control groups.The

results of research by (Ami, 2008) on 30 students

who were given porridge containing 480 calories,

68.75% carbohydrates reported that there was an

increase in memory at 30 minutes and a significant

increase at 90 minute. The results of this study also

report that an increase in blood glucose is associated

with increased memory.

5 CONCLUSIONS

The date palm given to students every day can affect

short-term memory and concentration of learning.

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