THURSDAY, Nov. 8 (HealthDay News) -- A small amount of caffeine
helps the brain recognize words with a positive connotation faster
and more accurately, according to a new study.
The German researchers noted that this effect doesn't extend to
the recognition of negative or neutral words.
Previous studies have shown that caffeine boosts activity in the
central nervous system, as well as enhances brain function during
simple tasks. In conducting the study, however, researchers led by
Lars Kuchinke and colleagues from Ruhr University in Bochum,
Germany, investigated the link between caffeine and emotional
biases, such as associating certain emotions with objects.
The study showed that consuming 200 milligrams of caffeine
(about two to three cups of coffee) 30 minutes before a task can
enhance the brain's recognition of positive words.
The researchers suggested that the effects of caffeine in areas
of the brain responsible for language could help explain their
findings.
The study was published Nov. 7 in the journal
PLoS ONE. Although the researchers found that caffeine was
associated with quicker recognition of positive words, they did not
prove a cause-and-effect relationship.
More information
The U.S. National Institutes of Health provides more information
on
caffeine.