Coffee 'Can Make The Mind Go Blank'

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 7-20-2004 | Nic Fleming

[blam]

Coffee 'can make mind go blank'

By Nic Fleming
(Filed: 20/07/2004)

Drinking coffee can cause tip-of-the-tongue moments when the brain struggles to retrieve information, according to a study.

Caffeine, widely held to make people more alert, can make the mind go blank or struggle to switch between trains of thought.

It can help the brain process information rapidly but interferes once the brain tries to switch between subjects, researchers claim.

Volunteers were split into two groups, with one given 200 milligrams of caffeine - the equivalent of two cups of coffee. They then answered 100 questions after reading 10 "priming words" with between two and eight of the words sounding similar to the answer.

Caffeine appeared to help participants find the correct answers when primed with many similar sounding words. But when there were more unrelated priming words they suffered more tip-of-the-tongue moments than those who had not had coffee.

The study, by researchers in Italy, is published in Behavioral Neuroscience.

[DeFault User]

Caffeine, widely held to make people more alert, can make the mind go blank or struggle to switch between trains of thought.

Effectively counteracted with nicotine.

[Boazo]

Who I'm I? What I'm I? AAAAAWHAAA,HUH

[Robert A Cook PE]

Oh that thing?

Shoot, it can't hold much coffee - Darn thong has a big hole right in the middle of it.......

[The Libertarian Dude]

Well, isn't it about time we put caffeine in Schedule I, then? Obviously, it's just as dangerous as cocaine...

[blam]

LOL. I drink a whole pot of coffee every day.

[Ciexyz]

I thought they just call it a "senior moment".

[tubebender]

The study, by researchers in Italy,

Uh, this "study" is just a plug for red wine...

[GSlob]

"Nonsense. I drink lots of coffee, and I've never had this trouble.
Changing the subject, flurble crottleby snerbmorg huthoop jremk."
Like many other things, it must depend on the blend.
I personally prefer Irish coffee: it sustains, supports and fortifies.

[Coyoteman]

LOL. I drink a whole pot of coffee every day.

I drink a whole pot of coffee every day too. And, I was going to post a very cutting rejoinder, but I forgot what the question was.

Actually, these comments have been among the funniest I have seen here in months.

Good post!

[Dasaji]

I can vouch for this!

[Anvilhead]

Ahhhhh, I see you've reached the same conclusion. It's all about having the different chemicals fight it out while you leech on the energy. Now if you'll excuse me I have to get back to my invention. I'm making a coffee flavored caffeinated cigarette. I was tired of the inefficient old way with the cups and pouring and the measuring and all.

[Indy Pendance]

Get yourself a large coffee cup, it fits fine. Don't settle for those whimmpy cups.

[sneakers]

Well! THAT'S why everybody has to fill in words to my sentences all the time! It's from that - uh - you know - that stuff I drink too much of! Darn! Now why can't I think of that word?! Oh yeah - COFFEE!!

[ErnBatavia]

Drinking coffee can cause tip-of-the-tongue moments

That's why this place is such a hoot at 5am PDT...I don't even THINK about posting then.

[longtermmemmory]

Oh so coffee makes so focused on one subject you have a momentary lapse changing subjects.

there was something else but I am too focused.

[ladyinred]

All this time I thought it was "mental pause" for me, but for someone who drinks coffee all day, I guess I just.....

[sc2_ct]

I don't uh... hmmm... believe that. I drink like, uh, 10+ cups of the stuff each....

[Leroy S. Mort]

Darn thong has a big hole right in the middle of it.......

Then I'd say you're making your coffee wayyyy too strong.

[TASMANIANRED]

"I drink a whole pot of coffee every day."


I drink 12 -16 ounces before work and then about 96 ounces at work. Some times I have a cup before I go to bed.

I'm sure I have a toxic caffiene level but I bet a transfusion from me would wake the near dead. Internal defribrillation.