A study conducted at the University of Southern California showed that when rats consumed large amounts of liquid solutions with concentrations of sugar or high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) comparable to popular sugar-sweetened beverages, they experienced memory problems, brain inflammation and became pre-diabetic. A series of tests were performed on 76 rats whose daily calorie intake consisted of 35-40% sugar or HFCS, resulting in impaired learning and memory. Experts say that the brain is especially influenced during periods of development and that consuming high amounts of sugar not only can lead to weight gain and metabolic disturbances, but can also negatively affect brain function and cognitive ability.