GNED1101 Assignment 2: Scientific Evidence Research ✓ Solved

GNED1101 Assignment 2: Scientific Evidence. Research one of

GNED1101 Assignment 2: Scientific Evidence. Research one of the following claims and write a report summarizing scientific and media evidence:

1) Physical activity has a positive impact on memory and student performance.

2) Eight hours of sleep is critical in forming memories.

3) Consuming caffeine can improve learning and memory.

Requirements: Use at least one media/news article and at least three primary research articles; include in-text citations and an APA reference list; include a figure (graph) from one primary source and place the figure and your caption after the references; write a concise report that evaluates the evidence and concludes with a scientifically accurate statement about the claim.

Paper For Above Instructions

Does consuming caffeine improve learning and memory?

This report evaluates media coverage and primary scientific evidence regarding the claim that consuming caffeine can improve learning and memory. I review representative primary studies and reviews, analyze a media report that popularized a key study, discuss mechanisms, limitations and contexts of effect, and conclude with a balanced, evidence-based statement about the claim.

Media framing of caffeine and memory

Popular media widely reported a high-profile experimental finding that a moderate dose of caffeine given shortly after learning improved later memory for new information (BBC News, 2014). The BBC article summarized Borota et al. (2014), highlighting the practical appeal that a coffee after studying might boost consolidation. Media coverage emphasized the positive outcome but often omitted critical details about dose, timing, study population, and the specific memory tests used (BBC, 2014).

Key primary studies and reviews

Borota et al. (2014) conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled experiment showing that 200 mg of caffeine administered after an encoding session enhanced recognition memory tested 24 hours later compared with placebo (Borota et al., 2014). This result supports a role for caffeine in memory consolidation when given after learning, rather than only as a pre-test stimulant. The study is frequently cited because it used a clear experimental manipulation and a delayed memory test, addressing consolidation specifically (Borota et al., 2014).

Neuroimaging work complements behavioural findings. Koppelstaetter et al. (2008) demonstrated that caffeine alters cerebral activation during working memory tasks, suggesting neural mechanisms by which caffeine may modulate cognitive processes relevant to learning (Koppelstaetter et al., 2008). Reviews and meta-analyses summarize that caffeine reliably improves alertness, vigilance and some aspects of attention and psychomotor performance; effects on higher-order memory are more selective and context-dependent (Nehlig, 2010; McLellan, Caldwell, & Lieberman, 2016).

Haskell et al. (2008) examined the combined effects of caffeine and L-theanine and found synergistic benefits for attention and some memory tasks in acute testing, indicating that caffeine’s cognitive effects can interact with other dietary components and that formulation matters (Haskell et al., 2008). Broader reviews emphasize that dose, timing (pre- vs post-encoding), prior caffeine use, and outcome measures (short-term working memory vs long-term consolidation) shape whether benefits are observed (Einöther & Giesbrecht, 2013; Smith, 2002).

Mechanisms and biological plausibility

Caffeine is an adenosine receptor antagonist; blocking adenosine increases neuronal excitability and neurotransmitter release (e.g., dopamine, norepinephrine), which can enhance arousal and attention—factors that facilitate encoding (Nehlig, 2010). For consolidation, caffeine's modulation of noradrenergic and dopaminergic systems could influence synaptic plasticity after learning, consistent with post-encoding effects observed in Borota et al. (2014).

Limitations, confounds and individual differences

Important qualifications moderate the simple claim that caffeine improves learning and memory. First, many cognitive benefits reflect improved attention and reduced fatigue; these support encoding and retrieval indirectly rather than directly increasing memory consolidation (McLellan et al., 2016). Second, tolerance and withdrawal confound acute-placebo contrasts: habitual coffee consumers may show apparent 'improvement' after caffeine because placebo conditions reflect withdrawal (withdrawal reversal) rather than true enhancement (Rogers & Dernoncourt, 1998). Careful studies attempt to control for withdrawal by using caffeine-naïve participants or withdrawal protocols (Nehlig, 2010).

Third, dose and timing matter. Borota et al. (2014) found post-encoding benefits with 200 mg, but lower or higher doses, or different timing (pre-encoding), may produce different outcomes (Borota et al., 2014; Einöther & Giesbrecht, 2013). Fourth, genetic polymorphisms (e.g., CYP1A2) and age can influence caffeine metabolism and sensitivity, producing heterogeneous effects across individuals (McLellan et al., 2016).

Integrating media and scientific evidence

Media reports like the BBC story tended to highlight the most actionable message—“coffee after studying helps memory”—which aligns with specific experimental findings (Borota et al., 2014). However, media rarely communicates the conditional nature of these results: benefits were observed in a controlled sample, with a particular dose and timing, and do not imply that habitual high caffeine intake or indiscriminate use will always improve academic learning. Scientific reviews recommend cautious interpretation: caffeine can enhance attention and sometimes consolidation under specific experimental conditions, but effects are not universal (Nehlig, 2010; McLellan et al., 2016).

Conclusion

Current evidence indicates that caffeine can improve aspects of cognitive performance—particularly alertness, attention, and psychomotor speed—and under specific conditions (e.g., a moderate dose given shortly after learning) may enhance memory consolidation (Borota et al., 2014; Koppelstaetter et al., 2008). The claim that “consuming caffeine can improve learning and memory” is therefore conditionally supported: benefits depend on dose, timing, individual tolerance, and the type of memory tested. Students considering caffeine as a study aid should weigh potential benefits against tolerance, withdrawal, sleep disruption, and individual health considerations, and should not assume caffeine is a universal or long-term substitute for good study practices and adequate sleep.

References

  • Borota, D., Murray, E., Keceli, G., Chang, A., Watabe, J. M., Ly, M., Toscano, J. A., & Yassa, M. A. (2014). Post-study caffeine administration enhances memory consolidation in humans. Nature Neuroscience, 17(2), 201–203. (Primary study used for Figure 1)
  • McLellan, T. M., Caldwell, J. A., & Lieberman, H. R. (2016). A review of caffeine's effects on cognitive, physical and occupational performance. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 71, 294–312.
  • Nehlig, A. (2010). Is caffeine a cognitive enhancer? Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 20(Suppl 1), S85–S94.
  • Koppelstaetter, F., Poeppel, T. D., Siedentopf, C. M., Ischebeck, A., Verius, M., Felber, S., ... & Krause, B. J. (2008). Does caffeine modulate verbal working memory–related brain activation? NeuroImage, 39(1), 492–499.
  • Haskell, C. F., Kennedy, D. O., Milne, A. L., Wesnes, K. A., & Scholey, A. B. (2008). The effects of L-theanine, caffeine and their combination on cognition and mood. Biological Psychology, 77(2), 113–122.
  • Einöther, S. J. L., & Giesbrecht, T. (2013). Caffeine as an attention enhancer: reviewing effects on attention and mood. Nutrition Reviews, 71(8), 518–530.
  • Smith, A. (2002). Effects of caffeine on human behavior. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 40(9), 1243–1255.
  • Rogers, P. J., & Dernoncourt, C. (1998). Regular caffeine consumption: a balance of adverse and beneficial effects for mood, cognition and the cardiovascular system. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 59(4), 1039–1045.
  • BBC News. (2014). Coffee can boost long-term memory, study suggests. BBC. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-30119777
  • U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2013). Spilling the beans: How much caffeine is too much? FDA Consumer Health Information. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates

Figure 1 from Borota et al. (2014) showing memory performance by caffeine and placebo groups

Figure 1. Representative figure from Borota et al. (2014) showing that participants who received 200 mg caffeine after learning showed higher recognition memory scores at 24-hour test compared with placebo. This figure demonstrates a post-encoding caffeine benefit on delayed recognition performance under controlled experimental conditions (Borota et al., 2014). The original figure is reproduced in concept here; consult the primary paper for the full data and graphical details.

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