New research from Monash University and the University of Toronto has found that thinking about coffee can be just as good for your brain function as drinking it.
Much like craving junk food after seeing an advertisement for McDonald’s or smelling deep-fried food, the researchers hypothesise that thinking about coffee can have a similar effect on the mind as drinking it.
The study conducted four experiments to test their theory and found that when participants thought about coffee or tea, or read articles about the benefits of coffee or tea, they experienced sharper focus and perceived time to be passing by quickly.
In a similar study published by the Journal of Environmental Psychology, researchers found that just smelling coffee improved alertness and increased focus.
Although actually drinking your coffee will give you the most benefits, it’s interesting to know that merely smelling, or thinking about coffee, may be enough to perk you up and get you through the afternoon slump!
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