According to a recent study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry, long-term consumption of caffeine can have an influence on the brain’s ability to adapt and learn. Researchers have discovered that regular caffeine consumers experience decreased brain plasticity, which is important for processes related to learning and memory.
Caffeine, a widely consumed stimulant found in coffee, tea, and carbonated drinks, is known for its ability to increase vigilance and concentration. However, its impact on the brain’s ability to change and adapt has remained unclear.
The study analyzed data from 20 healthy participants, with 16 being regular caffeine consumers and 4 who were not. All participants underwent the method of rehearsal transcranial magnetic stimulation (RTMS), which is used to study and modulate brain plasticity.
The results revealed that the participants who regularly consumed caffeine had a different reaction in their brain compared to those who did not consume caffeine. The group of non-caffeine users showed an increase in brain stimulation reaction, whereas the effect was significantly reduced in caffeine consumers.
The authors of the study, Joshua Brown and Megan Vinya, state, “Our data suggest that chronic caffeine consumption can weaken synaptic plasticity, which serves as the foundation for learning and memory.”
However, the researchers emphasize that their conclusions are based on a small sample size and require additional confirmation. It is also important to note that the study relied on self-assessment of caffeine consumption by participants, without considering the actual caffeine content in their blood.
Given the widespread use of caffeine, scientists stress the need for further studies to explore the relationship between caffeine consumption and brain plasticity. The study, titled “Chronic Use of Caffeine Hinders Induced RTMS Plasticity,” was conducted by Megan Vinya, Jamie Coveon, Prayushi Sharma, Benjamin Greenberg, Linda Carpenter, and Joshua Brown.