Loading...
When caffeine is administered before the start of a learning task, the chemical does not appear to promote learning. In this series of experiments, researchers examined how later administration of caffeine at various doses affected memory in healthy subjects (mean age, 20) who reported caffeine intake of 500 mg/week or less.
The participants took placebo or caffeine (100, 200, or 300 mg) after studying a series of pictures and were tested 24 hours later for the ability to discriminate among previously seen pictures, similar pictures, and completely new pictures. At 200 mg, caffeine improved consolidation of memory of the original pictures, but not basic overall recognition memory. Benefits decreased at the highest dose. Administration of caf…