Summary: A great study of the real world of 236 young adults found that caffeine considerably stimulates positive emotions, especially in the morning. Participants who had coffee or another caffeinated drink said they felt happier and more enthusiastic about the mornings without caffeine.
The effect was consistent, whatever the usual consumption of caffeine, anxiety or depressive symptoms. The researchers suggest that this is due to caffeine blocking adenosine receptors and possibly reverse the light weaning symptoms at night.
Key facts:
- Morning impact: The positive mood effect of caffeine is most pronounced early in the day.
- Coherent between groups: The effects were similar, whatever caffeine habits or mental health.
- Mechanism: Works by blocking adenosine receptors and stimulating dopamine activity.
Source: Bielefeld University
People who regularly consume caffeine are usually better mood after a cup of coffee or another caffeinated drink – a much more pronounced effect in the morning than later in the day.
This observation comes from a new study by researchers from Bielefeld University and the University of Warwick, published in the journal Scientific relationships. The participants said they felt much happier and more enthusiastic during these mornings compared to the other days at the same time when they had not yet taken coffee.
Links to negative moods such as sadness and feeling of upheaval have also been observed, although these effects were less pronounced: after drinking coffee, participants felt slightly less sad or upset than comparable days without coffee. Unlike the boost of positive emotions, this effect did not depend on the time of the day.
In total, 236 young adults in Germany were studied over a period of up to four weeks. Participants filled short questionnaires on their smartphones seven times a day, indicating their current mood and if they had consumed a caffein drink in the previous 90 minutes.
Consequently, the study focused on the consumption of caffeine in daily life, not only in the artificial laboratory.
Effect perceived independently of consumption habits
The researchers also studied if coffee had different effects on different people. Justin Hachenberger of Bielefeld University in Germany says: “We were somewhat surprised to find no difference between individuals with different levels of caffeine consumption or different degrees of depressive symptoms, anxiety or sleep problems.
“The links between caffeine intake and positive or negative emotions were quite consistent in all groups.”
The researchers expected people with higher levels of anxiety experience negative mood changes, such as increased nervousness, after consuming caffeine. However, Hachenberger points out that people who react to caffeine in a bad way can avoid it and that the study did not include people who abstain completely from caffeine.
The role of caffeine withdrawal symptoms remains uncertain
The researchers explain the effect of strengthening the mood of caffeine on the morning mood with its ability to block adenosine receptors, which promotes awakening and makes people more energetic.
“Caffeine works by blocking adenosine receptors, which can increase dopamine activity in the main regions of the brain – an effect that studies have linked to mood improvement and greater vigilance,” said Professor Anu Realo of the University of Warwick.
However, it is not clear if these effects are linked to a reduction in withdrawal symptoms after a night of sleep. “Even people with moderate caffeine consumption may experience light weaning symptoms that disappear with the first cup of coffee or tea in the morning,” explains Anu Realo.
Caffeine consumption: a universal habit
“About 80% of adults worldwide consume caffeinated drinks and the use of such stimulating substances dates back to human history,” said Professor Sakari Lemola at Bielefeld University, the main study of the study. “Even wild animals consume caffeine; Bees and bumblebees prefer the nectar of plants that contain caffeine.
However, study authors warn that caffeine can lead to dependence. Excessive intake is linked to various health risks and consume it later in the day can cause sleep problems.
About this news of the search for caffeine, mood and neuroscience
Author: Jörg Heeren
Source: Bielefeld University
Contact: Jörg Heeren – Bielefeld University
Picture: The image is credited with Neuroscience News
Original search: Open access.
“The association of caffeine consumption with a positive effect but not with negative effect changes through the day” by Sakari Lemola et al. Scientific relationships
Abstract
The association of caffeine consumption with a positive effect but not with negative effect changes through the day
Caffeine is well known for its stimulating effects on the central nervous system, leading to improved cognitive performance and changes in emotional states.
Although these effects have been widely studied in the controlled laboratory, the influence of caffeine on affect in daily life remains relatively under-explored.
This study aims to fill this gap by examining associations between temporary consumption of caffeine and affective states in naturalist contexts, while taking into account potential moderators such as day time, individual differences and contextual factors.
Using an experimental sampling methodology (ESM), we analyzed the data of 115 participants aged 18 to 25 in study 1 and 121 participants aged 18 to 29 in study 2. Study 1 lasted 14 days, which gave 8,335 inquiries finished and study 2 lasted 28 days, which gave 19,960 inquiries.
Our results indicate that caffeine intake was associated with a later increase in positive affect, while associations with a decrease in negative affect were less consistent.
The association between caffeine consumption and positive affect was the strongest in the first 2.5 hours after awakening (that is to say in the morning). Fatigue and the social context moderated this association.
Overall, the results of this ESM study suggest that caffeine can play an important role in modulating affective states in daily life.
