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Just Smelling Coffee May Change Your Mood And Brain Activity
ScienceAlert • • health
Key Points:
- A study by Showa Pharmaceutical University found that smelling freshly brewed coffee for five minutes improved mood and increased a brainwave-based relaxation index in young adults, even without caffeine intake.
- Participants reported reduced negative feelings such as fatigue, tension, anxiety, confusion, depression, and dejection, though vigor or energy levels did not significantly change.
- Brain activity showed modest signs of relaxation, but heart rate and heart rate variability remained unchanged, indicating no coordinated physiological response across brain and body measures.
- The study lacked a control group, making it unclear whether the coffee aroma itself caused mood improvements or if factors like rest, comfort, or expectation influenced results.
- Researchers suggest future randomized studies with controls and larger samples to better understand how coffee aroma might affect mood and brain function beyond caffeine consumption.
