A new study has shown that your morning cup of coffee may not get you going just because of the caffeine, but because drinking the coffee itself has positive effects in and of itself. This is according to a study made by scientists from the University of Minho’s School of Medicine in Portugal.
Published last week in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, the study provides new insights into the neurobiological effects of coffee consumption. The findings suggest that coffee may improve alertness and cognitive performance by increasing connectivity in certain brain networks. However, more research is needed to confirm these findings and to understand the long-term effects of coffee consumption on brain health.
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The study showed, among other things, that habitual coffee drinkers often report that they feel more alert and have better motor and cognitive performance after drinking a cup of Joe. However, there is no clear neurobiological evidence to support these subjective impressions.
The study used resting-state fMRI and has shown that coffee consumption can indeed alter brain connectivity patterns. Specifically, coffee consumption was found to decrease connectivity in the posterior default mode network (DMN) and between the somatosensory/motor networks and the prefrontal cortex. However, connectivity in nodes of the higher visual and the right executive control network (RECN) was increased after drinking coffee.
The study also found that caffeine intake only replicated the impact of coffee on the posterior DMN, suggesting that the neurochemical effects of caffeine are responsible for these changes in brain connectivity.
However, the study was conducted in a small sample of habitual coffee drinkers, so the results may not be generalizable to the wider population. And it did not control for other factors that could affect brain connectivity, such as age, gender, or smoking status. Further research is needed to confirm the findings of this study and to understand the long-term effects of coffee consumption on brain health.
“If you listen to these individuals, they typically say that they need to have coffee in the morning to get ready,” said Nuno Sousa, one of the study’s authors and a professor at the University of Minho’s School of Medicine in Portugal.
“We wanted to understand the brain mechanisms and functional connectivity pattern that would justify this claim,” he added. “The pleasure that is given to an individual that likes coffee in the morning that actually is part of almost a ritual that really is also important for that individual to feel that ‘I’m ready for the day.’”
Caffeine is a stimulant that is found in many foods and beverages, including coffee, tea, cola, chocolate, and energy drinks. It is a naturally occurring substance that is also added to some medications. It works by blocking the effects of adenosine, a neurotransmitter that makes you feel tired. This causes the release of other neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and norepinephrine, which can improve alertness, focus, and mood.
Caffeine is generally safe for most people when consumed in moderation. The recommended daily intake for adults is 400 milligrams (mg), which is about the amount of caffeine in four cups of brewed coffee. However, some people may be more sensitive to the effects of caffeine and may experience side effects such as anxiety, insomnia, and headaches.
And caffeine actually comes with some potential health benefits like improving alertness and focus and reducing fatigue. It can also boost your mood, improves athletic performance and may even protect against some chronic diseases.
But on the downside, caffeine can cause anxiety, insomnia, headaches, heart palpitations and dehydration. And it is also addictive so when ending caffeine consumption a person will experience withdrawal effects.
The amount of caffeine in different foods and beverages can vary widely. For example, a cup of coffee can contain anywhere from 95 to 200 mg of caffeine, while a can of cola can contain around 35 mg.
