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Coffee 'Can Make The Mind Go Blank'
The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 7-20-2004 | Nic Fleming

Posted on 07/19/2004 8:18:05 PM PDT by 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.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events; Technical
KEYWORDS: blank; coffee; go; make; mentalhealth; mind
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To: blam
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.

21 posted on 07/19/2004 8:43:02 PM PDT by DeFault User
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To: blam

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


22 posted on 07/19/2004 8:44:09 PM PDT by Boazo (LOSE THE TAG LINE)
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To: Indy Pendance

Oh that thing?

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


23 posted on 07/19/2004 8:44:40 PM PDT by Robert A Cook PE (I can only donate monthly ... But Kerry's ABBCNNBCBS press corpse lies every day.)
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To: blam



24 posted on 07/19/2004 8:45:25 PM PDT by Diddle E. Squat
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To: blam

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


25 posted on 07/19/2004 8:46:03 PM PDT by The Libertarian Dude (Patrick Henry didn't say "Give me liberty or make me give a urine sample" - Mojo Nixon)
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To: Coyoteman
LOL. I drink a whole pot of coffee every day.
26 posted on 07/19/2004 8:47:11 PM PDT by blam
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To: The Libertarian Dude

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


27 posted on 07/19/2004 8:48:32 PM PDT by Ciexyz ("FR, best viewed with a budgie on hand")
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To: blam
The study, by researchers in Italy,

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

28 posted on 07/19/2004 8:48:41 PM PDT by tubebender (If I had known I would live this long I would have taken better care of myself...)
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To: ScottFromSpokane
"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.
29 posted on 07/19/2004 8:49:55 PM PDT by GSlob
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To: blam
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!

30 posted on 07/19/2004 8:50:49 PM PDT by Coyoteman (I'm an archaeologist; I work for a living!)
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To: blam

I can vouch for this!


31 posted on 07/19/2004 8:52:32 PM PDT by Dasaji (Uhhh,...Pat? Can I please buy a vowel?)
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To: DeFault User

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.


32 posted on 07/19/2004 8:55:17 PM PDT by Anvilhead (When danger reared its ugly head, Brave Sir Robin turned and fled)
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To: Robert A. Cook, PE
Get yourself a large coffee cup, it fits fine. Don't settle for those whimmpy cups.


33 posted on 07/19/2004 8:56:13 PM PDT by Indy Pendance
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To: blam
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!!
34 posted on 07/19/2004 8:58:04 PM PDT by sneakers
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To: blam
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.

35 posted on 07/19/2004 8:58:33 PM PDT by ErnBatavia ("Dork"; a 60's term for a 60's kinda guy: JFK)
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To: blam

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.


36 posted on 07/19/2004 9:01:06 PM PDT by longtermmemmory (VOTE!)
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To: blam

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


37 posted on 07/19/2004 9:01:08 PM PDT by ladyinred (What if the hokey pokey IS what it's all about? Become a monthly donor and find out!!!)
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To: blam

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


38 posted on 07/19/2004 9:04:02 PM PDT by sc2_ct
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To: Robert A. Cook, PE
Darn thong has a big hole right in the middle of it.......

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

39 posted on 07/19/2004 9:15:47 PM PDT by Leroy S. Mort
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To: blam

"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.


40 posted on 07/19/2004 9:18:58 PM PDT by TASMANIANRED ( Kerry/Edwards......Lame-o and Blame-o)
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