THIS MORNING, I SIT WITH COFFEE IN FRONT OF ME. I am about to close my eyes and inhale deeply. Is your morning coffee a moment of happiness? But does your cup of coffee act as a placebo?
Are you among the millions who swear by their morning coffee? Some may desire a sweet caffeine boost, while others enjoy the taste.
Others may want more brain focus. I want some antioxidants, too.
Naturally, consuming a beverage chock full of caffeine awakens you, no? Well, hold on.
Portuguese researchers suggest that your morning cup of coffee may be a placebo. Yes, my mouth just dropped.
“When I think of coffee, I think of fresh mornings, companionship, a book while it rains outside, a conversation with a best friend, comfortable silence shared with someone special and warm hugs. Coffee teaches us life lessons, like the importance of taking one sip at a time and pausing every now and then to reflect on life.” ― Mitali Meelan, Coffee and Ordinary Life.
Coffee vs. Placebo Effect: Study Design
Here is the story. Researchers gathered a group of individuals who consumed at least one cup of coffee daily.
For the study, the subjects had no coffee for at least hours. They then had a brief functional brain MRI scan.
Half an hour later, the study participants had a standard cup of coffee or pure caffeine. Then, 30 minutes later, each had a second MRI.
What is the Brain’s Default Mode?
Before we get to the study results, I want to discuss one of the researcher’s measures.
The brain’s default mode network is active when we are not focused on the outside world and our brains are in a wakeful rest. Examples include daydreaming and mind-wandering.
The default mode network is also active during directed tasks that require participants to remember past events or imagine upcoming events.
The term “default” arose from discovering the network’s heightened activity during idle periods, implying that our brains default to using the network when an externally directed task is not provided.
However, the term is a misnomer. As noted above, the default network is also active during directed tasks, such as remembering your past or thinking about what might happen in your future.
Coffee vs. Placebo Effect: Study Results
The results are fascinating. Not this part: Those consuming coffee or pure caffeine had diminished connectivity in their so-called default mode network after consumption.
Caffeine and coffee prepare the brain to move from resting to working on tasks.
Now, things get more interesting;
Those consuming pure caffeine did not show increased connectivity in the visual and executive control networks, while those with coffee did.
In other words,
Caffeine may awaken you, but it does not make you any sharper. Only coffee prepares you for that critical Monday morning meeting.
How can this be? What do you think?
Coffee’s Placebo Effect
How can coffee’s drug part (caffeine) not be what causes the drink’s effects? The researchers don’t think the effect is due to withdrawal; that’s unlikely over three hours.
Rather, the researchers believe we are seeing a placebo effect. It all comes down to psychology.
We expect coffee to stimulate us in the morning, so it does.
My Take — Does Your Cup of Coffee Act as a Placebo?
Those who consumed either coffee or caffeine had decreased connectivity in their default mode network after consumption. This change indicates preparation for the brain to move from resting to working on tasks.
But…
Those consuming pure caffeine had no increased connectivity in their visual and executive control networks. The coffee drinkers did.
Caffeine may awaken you, but it may not make you more sharp.
The information I provided in this blog is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice.
Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. I am not liable for risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information in this blog.
Thank you for reading “Coffee as a Placebo.”
