Scientists found out whether morning coffee really “charges” energy
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Scientists found out whether a morning cup of coffee really increases alertness and performance. The study compared the effects of drinking coffee and consuming only caffeine, writes Medical News today. Many people drink coffee first thing in the morning to overcome fatigue, stay alert and work efficiently. Overall, approximately 75% of United States residents aged 20 and older drink coffee, and approximately 49% drink coffee daily. Photo: Vertical Coffee contains different compounds that affect the brain in different ways. Caffeine is the most well-known of these memory-enhancing compounds. However, little is known about its psychological impact. For example, some studies show that coffee can affect the cognitive performance of non-regular drinkers, but it has less of an effect on regular drinkers because they develop a tolerance to the drink. Recently, researchers compared the functional MRI data of regular coffee drinkers before and after drinking coffee or caffeine. They found that both coffee and caffeine cause changes in brain activity. That is, the use of caffeine or coffee helped people move from rest to tasks. However, the researchers also found that other types of activity were common only among coffee drinkers. This may be due to other compounds present in coffee. Dr. Antonio Teixeira, professor of psychiatry and director of the neuropsychiatry program at UTHealth Houston, who was not involved in the study, said: “The authors concluded that some of the overall effects attributed to coffee may be due to mechanisms other than caffeine itself . Among these other mechanisms, they mention the entire experience of drinking coffee, which may include some placebo effect, expectation, and even withdrawal that were not accounted for in the study.” What are the consequences of coffee consumption, not just caffeine? For the study, scientists recruited 47 people who drank at least one cup of coffee a day. They were on average 30 years old. All participants were asked to refrain from consuming caffeinated beverages or food for at least three hours before participating in the study. Once in the lab, participants underwent two fMRI scans: one before and one 30 minutes after ingesting caffeine or drinking a cup of coffee. Participants were asked to relax during the fMRI scan. Ultimately, the researchers found that both coffee and caffeine contributed to a greater willingness to switch from rest to task processing. Coffee, but not caffeine, also increased activity in executive control and visual networks associated with visual processing and higher-level cognitive functions, including working memory, cognitive control, and goal-directed behavior. Drinking coffee is a sensory experience Researchers write that the different effects of caffeine intake and coffee consumption may stem from the “sensory experience” of drinking coffee, in particular, they say, the tradition of drinking a cup of coffee. Armargo Couture, a nutritionist at Staten Island University Hospital in New York, who was not involved in the study, noted that the additional effects of drinking coffee could be explained by the placebo effect: “The placebo effect may work in this case because the culture of drinking a cup coffee before the start of the day is a social norm. In fact, for many, “morning coffee” is associated with “waking up” and preparing for the day ahead.” Couture noted that the additional effect of coffee may also occur due to other compounds it contains. “Components of coffee, such as the terpenes – cafestol and caveol, and polyphenols, such as chlorogenic acid, interact with various receptors in the brain, increasing energy and mood. The terpenes and polyphenols in coffee have been studied and shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which is also associated with a lower risk of depression,” she added. What the study says about the benefits of coffee consumption “Drinking coffee increases executive control in subjects, which means that coffee can promote your goal-oriented thinking while improving your working memory and cognitive abilities,” Couture said. She emphasized that drinking coffee can be beneficial by increasing motivation and working memory. The researchers also note that drinking decaffeinated coffee in the morning can also make people feel more alert and focused. Read also: What is the harm of coffee, what does it save from and how much is better to drink
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