Month: January 2014

Caffeine is known to confer a number of brain-boosting benefits, but its influence on our ability to store and recall information has never been properly explored. A new study corrects this oversight, showing that caffeine can help us recall certain memories — and it’s an effect that lasts for at least 24 hours.

Caffeine is considered a cognitive enhancer on account of its stimulant properties. Though the effects are subtle, it’s known to improve mood and mental and physical performance. Studies have also shown that, in conjunction with L-theanine (a common amino acid found in green tea), caffeine can (slightly) boost working memory. But prior to this new study, which was conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins and the University of California-Irvine, it wasn’t known if caffeine has an enhancing effect on long-term memory in humans.