Scientists Revealed the Paradox of Coffee Alertness

An international group of scientists from Slovenia and the Netherlands has made an amazing discovery that overturns our understanding of the invigorating properties of caffeine. According to a new study published in the prestigious scientific journal Heliyon, decaf can trigger the same physiological and cognitive responses as traditional caffeinated coffee.

The researchers conducted a carefully planned experiment - a double-blind placebo-controlled study involving 20 students who regularly enjoy coffee beverages. Participants in the experiment were offered either regular coffee or its decaffeinated version, with both drinks being indistinguishable in taste and aromatic characteristics.

Before and after the coffee break, scientists recorded volunteers' heart rate, blood pressure, assessed cognitive functions, and brain activity using electroencephalography. Contrary to expectations, the group that received the caffeinated drink did not demonstrate more pronounced changes.

Surprisingly, both groups showed virtually identical physiological reactions: participants experienced a decrease in heart rate and an increase in blood pressure. In tests of cognitive abilities, which included mental arithmetic and concentration tasks, the differences between the groups were minimal.

Scientists hypothesize that the aroma, taste, and even the ritual of coffee preparation itself may trigger psychological and physiological reactions in the body that are independent of caffeine content. Previous studies have already demonstrated that just the smell of coffee or the belief in receiving a dose of caffeine can increase alertness and improve cognitive functions.

Despite the intriguing results, the researchers acknowledge the limitations of their work: a small sample of participants, all of whom were regular coffee consumers. Additionally, even decaffeinated coffee contains a small amount of caffeine, which could potentially have influenced the data obtained.