Like many people I know, I need a cup of coffee at the start of the day to get my brain functioning. And then another cup possibly later in the day…when we’re hitting that stretch before check out time at work. There are a lot of conflicting studies on coffee’s affect on the body and brain; whether it’s good for your or not. I’m not a doctor, so I can’t say which study is more correct, but I can say I enjoy my coffee, and now I have more reasons for it…
Recently posted by Gary L. Wenk, Ph.D. on Psychology Today was whether drinking coffee could make you more intelligent. There were no promises of added smarts, but it did note that a “surprising predictor of intelligence is finger-tapping speed, which turns out to be influenced by the level of dopamine in the brain.” In plain terms, those that tap their fingers fast usually think fast also. Wenk also points out that “increased processing speed correlates with their IQ score.”
So when you think about it, stimulants such as coffee speed up your body processes, especially the dopamine release in your brain which will speed up your thinking. But before you start funneling coffee for an added boost for studying there is a downside…According to Wenks’ report, our brains are already at capacity for speed. In fact, the neural processing of our brains is already a ‘few extra action potentials per second away from a full-blown seizure’. As per usual advice, coffee is good taken in moderation. Read more about Wenks’ report >
But there is a light at the end of the tunnel…it is advised that coffee does in fact help us perform some tasks better. The small amounts consumed at a time can help our brains be more efficient and take off some of the lag we have at times from lack of sleep or motivation.
So the next time you’re feeling a bit sluggish, don’t feel guilty about a cup of coffee. It could help you finish that paper you’ve been working so hard on, or jog your brain for a better discussion post idea.
– By J. Mason
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