1. The effects of caffeine on olfactory function and mood: an exploratory study
- Author
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Kaylee Orgill and Lorenzo D. Stafford
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,Olfactory system ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Adenosine ,tea ,Adolescent ,coffee ,Exploratory research ,030508 substance abuse ,Audiology ,Placebo ,Coffee ,Arousal ,Older population ,Young Adult ,03 medical and health sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,0302 clinical medicine ,Double-Blind Method ,odour idenitification ,Caffeine ,smell ,Humans ,Medicine ,Odour identification ,Original Investigation ,Pharmacology ,Tea ,Human studies ,business.industry ,odour threshold ,Odour threshold ,Olfactory Perception ,Smell ,Affect ,Mood ,chemistry ,adenosine ,Sensory Thresholds ,Female ,0305 other medical science ,business ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery - Abstract
Caffeine has been demonstrated to enhance olfactory function in rodents, but to date, the sparse research in humans has not shown any equivalent effects. However, due to the methodological nature of those human studies, a number of questions remain unanswered, which the present study aimed to investigate. Using a double-blind experimental design, participants (n = 40) completed baseline mood measures, standardised threshold and identification tests and were then randomly allocated to receive a capsule containing either 100 mg of caffeine or placebo, followed by the same olfactory tests and mood measures. Results revealed that despite a trend toward elevated arousal following caffeine for habitual caffeine consumers, there were no changes in odour function. In contrast, for non-caffeine consumers, caffeine acted to enhance odour (threshold) sensitivity but reduce odour identification. Overall, these findings demonstrate a complex profile of effects of caffeine on odour function and, given the evidence from the wider caffeine literature, it is proposed that the effects of caffeine might be limited to older populations.
- Published
- 2020
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