Coffee boosts memory retention, study says

Johns Hopkins researchers report that caffeine can improve memory retention, especially the ability to tell apart similar but not identical items. In their study, a 200-milligram caffeine tablet given after a learning task led to better performance on a recognition test 24 hours later.

Reading notes

#

• The study says caffeine was an effective memory enhancer in this experiment.
• Researchers found that the average American adult’s daily caffeine amount, about 200 milligrams, improved pattern separation performance.
• Pattern separation means distinguishing between similar but not identical events or experiences, and the article links it to recall accuracy and learning.
• More than 150 people took part in a double-blind trial, and they did not regularly consume caffeinated products.
• Participants first viewed everyday objects, then received either a placebo or a 200-milligram caffeine tablet five minutes after the study phase.
• They returned 24 hours later and had to recognize items that were the same, new, or similar but slightly altered.
• The caffeinated group was better at identifying similar but not identical items.
• The researchers say a standard recognition test without those similar items would likely have shown both groups performing equally.
• Caffeine was administered after the experiment so the researchers could attribute any improvement to memory rather than to other effects.
• The researchers say their next step is to study the brain mechanisms behind the improved memory retention, possibly with brain imaging.