Culture

Two espressos a day improve memory

Caffeine helps preserve memories. People who consumed caffeine after viewing the images remembered them better after 24 hours.

It has long been known that coffee is the best friend of students who have to study at night, as well as people who work for many hours in a row. A new study, published by Nature Neuroscience, found that caffeine (one or two cups of coffee per day) improves long-term memory. The good news also applies to lovers of tea and other drinks containing caffeine. Of course, here it is important to know the measure.

The authors of the study was a group of scientists at the American University of Johns Hopkins, led by Michael Yassa: “We always knew that caffeine has a positive effect on the cognitive abilities of a person. But his ability to preserve memories, making them more stable and less susceptible to oblivion, has never been studied in detail in the scientific community, ”said Iasi.

Coffee experiment

Scientists organized a “double-blind” study (neither the subjects nor the experimenters themselves knew in advance which indicators would process) over 100 volunteers. The experiment was as follows: first, all participants were shown different images, and then five minutes later they were given a placebo or a tablet containing 200 mg of caffeine (equivalent to 2 cups of coffee). However, none of the volunteers regularly took products containing caffeine. Previously, saliva samples were taken from volunteers in order to determine the “baseline” level of caffeine in the body. Then, such samples were taken one, three, and 24 hours after the experiment.

The next day, both groups of participants were invited to evaluate how well they remembered the images shown to them the day before. At this stage of the experiment, completely new images were additionally used, as well as images similar, but not identical, to those presented the previous day.

And here the “espresso effect” showed itself: in the “caffeine” group they gave the right answers and avoided the traps of similar images more people compared to the group that did not use caffeine.

Memory

The brain’s ability to distinguish between similar, but not identical, subjects belongs to a deeper level of preservation of memories, the researchers explain. And it seems that caffeine acts in this direction.

“In almost all previous studies, caffeine was given to volunteers before the start of the experiment. Therefore, it was not obvious what exactly it affects: attention, observation, focus, or any other qualities. Having taken caffeine after the experiment, we eliminated all possible doubts: the improvement of indicators is connected with memory, and with nothing else, ”Iassa assured. “Our next step will be the study of brain mechanisms based on the identified improvements,” the scientist continued. “For myself, I learned from this study that I should continue to drink my favorite coffee.

Our experience has shown improvements in memory; according to other studies, caffeine helps increase longevity and better resistance to Alzheimer's disease and other diseases associated with cognitive impairment. So in moderation, coffee is obviously healthy. ”

Watch the video: 7 Facts About Coffee You Probably Didnt Know (November 2024).

Popular Posts

Category Culture, Next Article

Basilica of Superga in Turin
Turin

Basilica of Superga in Turin

Ten kilometers from the city of Torino, at the very top of the hill of Superga (Il Colle di Superga), from which it was named, is the Basilica of Superga (La Basilica di Superga) - a place where history and legend converge. This is a basilica erected because of an oath, this is a church where representatives of the Savoy dynasty were buried, this is a place where a terrible tragedy happened decades ago, and it is a sight that tourists from all over the world constantly come to.
Read More
National Automobile Museum in Turin
Turin

National Automobile Museum in Turin

The National Automobile Museum (Museo Nazionale dell'Automobile) in Turin (Torino) is named after Giovanni Agnelli, Italian entrepreneur and former chief shareholder of Fiat Fiat and the Juventus team. Included in the ranking of the 50 best museums in the world. The collection consists of rare car models, has more than 200 original copies and 80 brands, starting from the first steam engines of 1769 and ending with the most modern cars of Formula 1.
Read More
Lavazza Coffee Museum in Turin
Turin

Lavazza Coffee Museum in Turin

Do you measure your life in coffee spoons? If so, then I advise you to visit the fantastic Lavazza Museum (Museo Lavazza) in Turin, dedicated to the rich coffee culture in Italy, as well as the history of the largest and most famous coffee brand in the world. I did not expect before the visit that the coffee museum would make such an impression on me.
Read More
Shroud of Turin
Turin

Shroud of Turin

One of the priceless relics in Christianity is rightfully the Shroud of Turin (Italian: Sindone di Torino). For many millions of people, this is a genuine canvas for the burial of Jesus Christ, on which the face of Jesus' wounded body with traces of blood was mysteriously imprinted. According to the belief of Christian believers, the linen shroud from Turin is a witness to the Suffering of Jesus Christ and causes awe and awe before the shroud.
Read More