Japanese researchers have investigated the effect of smelling freshly brewed coffee – even without taking a single sip – on mood and brain activity. This study, published in the journal Nutrients, involved twenty university students aged between 20 and 29.
“Elchi” reports that during tests conducted in the presence of the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, it was observed that negative emotions decreased and the “relaxation index” of brain waves increased in participants within five minutes.
No significant changes were recorded in heart rate or heart rate variability.
Notable changes in mood and brain activity
Researchers brewed 20 grams of ground coffee with 400 milliliters of hot water and placed the drink approximately 50 cm away from the participants.
Measurements taken before and after the five-minute exposure to the aroma yielded the following results:
A significant decrease was recorded in indicators reflecting the participants’ levels of fatigue, tension, anxiety, confusion, and depression.
Although no immediate increase in energy or vitality was observed, it was determined that the coffee aroma mainly reduced negative emotions.
An increase was detected in the “relaxation index,” calculated based on the ratio of alpha, beta, and theta brain waves.
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