Coffee Scent Improves Cognitive Functions
The aroma of coffee is a pleasure and it stimulates us. There is nothing more pleasant than the smell of coffee in the mornings. It is a pleasure for all our senses and brains. In fact, research suggests that this scent may even motivate us and improve our cognitive processes. It can even help improve our mood.
Most people have experienced this more than once in their lives. It is enough to open the coffee container, whether it is ground or whole beans, to feel the pleasant aroma. We love the scent and velvety depth that transports us to other places.
Our wise brains give us these very suggestive experiences. The smell of coffee travels from the brainstem directly to the limbic system, even to areas where emotions and memory are located.
The smell of coffee improves our cognitive performance, but not necessarily because it would give us superpowers. It simply affects emotions and well-being like a placebo. This is undoubtedly an idea worth exploring.
Our brains love coffee
Often people say that no place is as full of ideas as a cup of coffee. Writers, students, philosophers, and everyone else who drinks it in the morning or perhaps at night will tell you the same thing. This drink was also a favorite of several historical figures. Napoleon was one of them. He drank coffee before each fight despite the effects it had on his stomach.
Caffeine is one of the alkaloids our brains like the most. It is a natural stimulus to the nervous system. Its effects begin to be felt 15 minutes after ingestion and can last up to 6 hours. Its wonderful effect is based on its molecular structure. Caffeine is able to block adenosine receptors from those molecules that cause drowsiness or exhaustion.
However, there is much more to be said about coffee. It not only helps us stay awake and refreshed in the mornings and even work better. It can also produce a pleasant feeling while drinking. We can thank dopamine for this feeling. This neurotransmitter promotes a state of activation, well-being, and motivation. However, it is also responsible for the misuse of coffee.
The smell of coffee
A study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology this year revealed an interesting fact about coffee. The aroma of coffee improves cognitive abilities. In other words, it optimizes attention, analytical and problem-solving ability, and work efficiency or academic performance. All of this may seem like magic, but Dr. Adriana Madzharov explained that it has an interesting placebo-like effect.
The researchers were able to show that the smell of coffee in the room alone causes a feeling of well-being in 90% of people. Likewise, we already know that our brains love coffee. Caffeine stimulates them and creates a feeling of pleasure. Therefore, its scent can activate everything it passes through, from the brainstem to the limbic system.
The placebo has a great effect on the human body. According to experts, this is especially true when it is a sense of smell. This is a brain resource that is well underutilized, when in fact it is a direct connection to emotions and memory. It is an effective pathway that can inspire, calm or activate us, improve our attention span and creativity.
Experiencing life through the sense of smell
Famous writer and political activist Helen Keller lost her sight and hearing at the age of 19. That’s why Helen developed a good sense of smell from an early age. He shaped the world he experienced by paying close attention to the scents around him.
The smell of coffee was also one of his favorites. In a quiet and dark world, his universe became infinite and rich thanks to his sense of smell. The marketing industry and organizations understand this matter well. Sometimes the scent of vanilla, cinnamon, coffee, or chocolate can improve our well-being and productivity. This is quite interesting!
