tea-and-mental-performance
STAY HEALTHY
TEA AND MENTAL PERFORMANCE
A large number of studies suggest that tea may help mental performance.
Theanine
L-Theanine is naturally present in tea. The amount in just 3-4 cups has been shown to stimulate alpha brainwaves which are associated with a relaxed but alert state of mind.
Alpha brain waves are thought to be important when you’re juggling different tasks simultaneously. So when faced with a distraction, L-theanine helps you concentrate on the task at hand.
Caffeine
Tea also contains caffeine, which has been demonstrated to increase alertness and reduce fatigue. Caffeine makes you feel energised.
The combination of theanine and caffeine in tea may make you feel relaxed but alert and could help you focus.
References
- Quinlan PT, Lane J, Moore KL, Aspen J, Rycroft JA, O'Brien DC. “The acute physiological and mood effects of tea and coffee: the role of caffeine level”. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2000;66(1):19-28
- Hindmarch I, Quinlan PT, Moore KL, Parkin C. “The effects of black tea and other beverages on aspects of cognition and psychomotor performance”. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 1998;139(3):230-8
Hindmarch I, Rigney U, Stanley N, Quinlan P, Rycroft J, Lane J. “A naturalistic investigation of the effects of day-long consumption of tea, coffee and water on alertness, sleep onset and sleep quality”. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2000;149(3):203-16
- Steptoe A, Gibson EL, Vounonvirta R, Williams ED, Hamer M, Rycroft JA, Erusalimsky JD, Wardle J. “The effects of tea on psychophysiological stress responsivity and post-stress recovery: a randomised double-blind trial.” Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2007 Jan;190(1):81-9
- Smith,A.P., Rusted,J.M., Eaton-Williams,P., Savory,M. and Leathwood,P. (1990) Effects of caffeine given before and after lunch on sustained attention. Neuropsychobiology 23, 160-163.
- Lieberman,H.R., Tharion,W.J., Shukitt-Hale,B., Speckman,K.L. and Tulley,R. (2002) Effects of caffeine, sleep loss, and stress on cognitive performance and mood during
US Navy SEAL training. Psychopharmacology 164, 250-261.
- Brice,C.F. and Smith,A.P. (2002) Effects of caffeine on mood and performance: a study of realistic consumption. Psychopharmacology 164, 188-192.
- Smith,A., Sturgess,W. and Gallagher,J. (1999) Effects of a low dose of caffeine given in different drinks on mood and performance. Human Psychopharmacology - Clinical and Experimental 17, 473-482.
- Christopher,G., Sutherland,D. and Smith,A. (2005) Effects of caffeine in non-withdrawn volunteers. Human Psychopharmacology - Clinical and Experimental 20, 47-53.
- Nehlig,A. (1999) Are we dependent upon coffee and caffeine? A review on human and animal data. Neurosice and Behavioural Reviews 23, 563-576.
- Smith,A. (2002) Effects of caffeine on human behaviour. Food and Chemical Toxicology 40, 1243-1255.
- Ruijter,J., Lorist,M.M. and Snel J (1999) The influence of different doses of caffeine on visual task performance. Journal of Psychophysiology 13, 37-48.
- Ruijter,J., De Ruiter,M.B. and Snel,J. (2000) The effects of caffeine on visual selective attention to color: An ERP study. Psychophysiology 37, 427-439.
- Lorist,M.M. and Snel,J. (1997) Caffeine effects on perceptual and motor processes. Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology 102, 410-413.
- Kobayashi,K., Nagato,Y., Aoi,N. et al. (1998) Effects of L-theanine on the release of a-brain waves in human volunteers. Nippon Nogeikagaku Kaishi 72, 153-157.
- Juneja,L.R., Chu,D., Okubo,T., Nagato,Y. and Yokogoshi,H. (1999) L-theanine - a unique amino acid of green tea and its relaxation effects in humans. Trends in Food Sci.Technol. 10, 199-204.
- Song,C.H., Jung,J.H., Oh,J.S. and Kim,K.S. (2003) Effects of theanine on the release of alpha brain waves in adult males. Korean J.Nutrition 36, 918-923.
- Gomez-Ramirez,A., Higgins,B.A., Owen,G.N., Rycroft,J.A. and Foxe,J.J. (2005) Effects of Theanine on the Deployment of Intersensory Selective Attention: A high-density electrical mapping study. Neuopsychologia
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