Coffee + Memory

Killa_ken

Killa_ken

Killa_ken

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Im not sure if this is just me being weird, but does anyone else find that drinking coffee then learning something makes you remember it for longer and understand it better?

Last month I was studying for finals, and I found that where I had drank a cup of coffee then learnt something not only did I understand it better, but i could remember it for 10 days after without needing to re-study it.

The chapters I didnt drink coffee before, I found my self re-studying them 3 or 4 days later.

Im aware caffine obviously increases your mental alertness and increases synapse responses, but I never thought of applying this to learning.

Just thought I would post that with exams coming up for the rest of the world :)

Edit: http://nootropics.com/caffeine/pyroglutamate.html
 
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Caffeine usually helps you concentrate/makes you more alert (as long as you don't have too much) so that's pretty much why. Same with Red Bull etc.

It may not be that it's helping you remember it for longer or aiding your memory, it may just be that you concentrate harder so understand it more so it sticks more easily if you get what I mean.
 
Calder said:
Caffeine usually helps you concentrate/makes you more alert (as long as you don't have too much) so that's pretty much why. Same with Red Bull etc.

It may not be that it's helping you remember it for longer or aiding your memory, it may just be that you concentrate harder so understand it more so it sticks more easily if you get what I mean.
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Here's a note to all, the concentration of caffeine Vs performance is a arc shape graph, i.e. drinking caffeine drinks helps improve performance up to an optimal peak - too much of it can land you worst off than you've started.

Just thought I'll share what I've learned today in my Neuropharmacology II module.
 
Killa_ken said:
Im not sure if this is just me being weird, but does anyone else find that drinking coffee then learning something makes you remember it for longer and understand it better?

Last month I was studying for finals, and I found that where I had drank a cup of coffee then learnt something not only did I understand it better, but i could remember it for 10 days after without needing to re-study it.

The chapters I didnt drink coffee before, I found my self re-studying them 3 or 4 days later.

Im aware caffine obviously increases your mental alertness and increases synapse responses, but I never thought of applying this to learning.

Just thought I would post that with exams coming up for the rest of the world :)

Edit: http://nootropics.com/caffeine/pyroglutamate.html
Click to expand...


AFAIK, caffine has negative effects on long term memory retention and retreival. It does improve concentration though.
 
D.P. said:
AFAIK, caffine has negative effects on long term memory retention and retreival. It does improve concentration though.
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long-term doesn't matter if you're cramming for exams though :p

FOOSH for the win! I don't like coffee but these things are packed with caffeine and dont taste too bad.
 
I've been taking Omega 3 supplements and my ability in maths has absolutely rocketed.

I hate coffee so usually drink red bull if I'm tired before an exam. I'm not sure it helps though as after the initial rush you feel tired again :(
 
digisatman said:
ive got a killer exam tomorrow, can i pull an all-nighter and guzzle coffee before the exam?
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Better to sleep than revise all night.

You'll forget all you try to learn. Better to let your brain process everything while sleeping.
 
I've given up caffine. Again and for good this time.

In the past I was drinking 2 normal sized cafiteres of expresso a day.

Last time by cold turkey I had all the signs of drug withdrawals. Shakes, cold sweats, the thirst (no drink or food will quench), ratty attitude, relapsing bouts of tireness. I stayed caffine free for 4 months but got board of water as I don't like squash or fizzy drinks.

In short, from my understanding, repeated use of caffine means you have to have caffine to bring you to the normal level of alertness. Additional caffine does increase your alertness and focus until you have too much at which point your focus wanders all over the place. At this point the conversations you have are surreal and people have difficulty understanding the flow :D

I do find that although your more alert and find it easier to focus, I found that after a month of giving up caffine I could think more laterally when solving problems. I also feel refreshed in the morning and my mind works from the point it wakes up. I don't need a coffee just to get me started.

This time was a lot easier as I first cut down to one coffee am/pm, then to those coffees being half hot water, then to decaf coffee for a week - now nothing.
I did feel ratty for a week but now I'm fine.
I've also found some good naturally caffine free drinks.


Red Bull is bad as it's got a large chunk of sugar in it, so you get the sugar high then the sugar crash after.
 
Hmmm I never really drink tea or coffee, but as I'm studying for my finals I might give this a go, though I suppose if you never really have caffeine in your system it might make you super alert for a while?
 
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kmistry said:
Hmmm I never really drink tea or coffee, but as I'm studying I might give this a go, though I suppose if you never really have caffeine in your system it might make you super alert for a while?
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yeah, i think the first time i had a coffee, i *** reallllllly feel it!
 
georges said:
Better to sleep than revise all night.

You'll forget all you try to learn. Better to let your brain process everything while sleeping.
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not if you left the revision too late - I quite often find myself starting to revise the night before, then If I went to sleep, I might be alert, but I wouldn't know anything, whereas if I stay up all night and revise - I'll be semi-alert but know everything.

I really should stop procrastinating so much though.
 
Tommy B said:
I've been taking Omega 3 supplements and my ability in maths has absolutely rocketed.
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Do you just get them from your local Pharmacy? Over how long a period have you taken them dude?
 
digisatman said:
ive got a killer exam tomorrow, can i pull an all-nighter and guzzle coffee before the exam?
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and constantly run to the loo the next day

reminds me of the time i drank 3 litres of Kick (Tescos Red Bull wanabe stuff)

had the shakes for the whole night, back and forward to the loo and couldnt sleep, needless to say my CSS kill:died ratio dropped dramatically
 
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