Your Morning Coffee Might Not Need Caffeine to Perk You Up

Many of us rely on a warm cup of coffee to kickstart our day, assuming it’s the caffeine that does the trick. But for regular coffee drinkers, a decaffeinated version might be just as effective.

A Surprising Discovery

It might sound surprising, but that’s exactly what researchers from institutions in Slovenia and the Netherlands discovered in a recent study comparing the effects of caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee on the body and brain.

With over two billion cups consumed globally each day, caffeine’s impact is well documented. However, for those trying to cut back—perhaps due to sleep issues or anxiety—decaf could offer more benefits than previously thought.

According to the researchers, “Expectation has a powerful influence; when participants believe they’re consuming caffeine, they often show similar cognitive and performance enhancements, even if it’s a placebo.”

Designing the Experiment

To delve deeper into this phenomenon, the team studied 20 healthy university students who regularly drank one to three cups of coffee daily.

Participants were asked to get at least seven hours of sleep the night before, avoid coffee for 8–11 hours, and refrain from eating for two hours before the experiment.

Upon arrival at the lab, the researchers recorded baseline measurements of brain activity (EEG) and cardiovascular function. The participants then completed a mental math test and an auditory task meant to assess reaction time.

The students were then randomly assigned to two groups: one received decaffeinated coffee, and the other drank the same coffee with caffeine added (6 mg per kilogram of body weight).

After consuming the beverages, participants rested for 30 minutes before repeating the tests and measurements.

Similar Results Across the Board

Although both groups exhibited physiological and cognitive changes post-consumption, the differences between the decaf and caffeinated groups were minimal.

While neither group showed marked improvement on the math tests, both groups—regardless of caffeine content—responded more quickly in the auditory task. Only the caffeine group’s results reached statistical significance, but the decaf group’s similar pattern points to a strong placebo effect.

The researchers explained that the habitual nature of coffee consumption might drive this effect. In fact, previous studies have shown that simply exposing coffee drinkers to the smell of coffee can speed up their reaction times.

Surprising Brain and Heart Responses

The EEG readings revealed that brain wave activity related to cognitive processing increased during the auditory task, especially in participants who consumed caffeine. The researchers also found it surprising that both groups—despite only one consuming active caffeine—experienced notable cardiovascular changes, such as elevated blood pressure and a slower heart rate.

These results suggest that caffeine isn’t the only factor behind coffee’s stimulating effects. Our mental associations with coffee may play a major role, especially among habitual drinkers.

The researchers concluded, “Coffee-like stimuli can trigger mental and physical responses that closely resemble those produced by real coffee.”

In essence, for regular coffee lovers, the simple act of drinking coffee—regardless of its caffeine content—might be enough to help wake you up.

Read the original article on: Science Alert

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