Unmasking the Coffee Buzz: Is Alertness a Placebo Effect? Study Uncovers Surprising Brain Findings

For many, the day starts with coffee, believed to boost alertness and productivity. According to a 2016 paper published in the Journal of Nutrition, about 75% of Americans consume coffee regularly to promote morning alertness.

However, recent research suggests that feeling more awake after drinking coffee might be a placebo effect, challenging the belief that we can't start the day without it.

Does Caffeine Boost Alertness or Is It Just a Placebo Effect?

A group of Portuguese scientists conducted a study to investigate the feeling of alertness experienced after drinking coffee, ZME Science reported. They suspected that this might be more of a placebo effect related to the experience of drinking coffee rather than the actual effects of caffeine. To explore this further, they performed MRI scans on individuals who were regular coffee consumers.

In the study, titled "Coffee Consumption Decreases the Connectivity of the Posterior Default Mode Network (DMN) At Rest" published in the journal Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, researchers recruited participants who drank at least one cup of coffee daily and instructed them to abstain from any caffeinated beverages or food for three hours before the study.

They conducted two MRI scans on each participant, one before and one after consuming caffeine or a standardized cup of coffee. The participants were instructed to relax and allow their minds wander throughout the scans.

The scientists expected that the scans would show increased integration of networks associated with the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for executive memory, and the default mode network, responsible for introspection, due to the neurochemical effects of coffee.

However, the findings demonstrated that both coffee consumption and pure caffeine intake reduced connection within the default mode network.
This implies that the act of consuming coffee or caffeine increased participants' willingness to shift from a state of rest to task engagement. The research gives information on the potential placebo effect of coffee drinking and its influence on attentiveness.

Boosting Alertness in the Morning

Dr. W. Christopher Winter, a neurologist and sleep medicine physician with Charlottesville Neurology and Sleep Medicine told online news magazine Prevention that coffee lovers starting the day with a cup of coffee is perfectly fine. Additionally, he suggests exposing oneself to light, having a set wake time, exercising, and eating to help shake off sleep and feel more alert in the morning.

Moreover, Jamie Alan, Ph.D., an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University emphasizes that the best way to feel awake in the morning varies from person to person. Some prefer a cold plunge, coffee or tea, stretching, waking up to a gradual sunrise-simulating alarm clock, or simply going outside and breathing fresh air.

For those experiencing persistent grogginess, Alan recommends discussing medications with a medical provider to ensure they are not affecting alertness and considering an evaluation for sleep apnea, a condition that can cause drowsiness. However, if coffee is your go-to morning pick-me-up, there's no reason to hold back.

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