A study of 20 university students suggests that inhaling the scent of freshly brewed coffee can reduce feelings of tension, anxiety, and confusion.
Key facts
- •The study involved 20 Japanese university students exposed to the aroma of Sumatran coffee.
- •Participants inhaled the coffee scent for five minutes from a distance of 50 cm.
- •Reported scores for tension, anxiety, confusion, and depression dropped significantly after exposure.
- •The calculated relaxation index increased from roughly 0.74 to 0.78 during the experiment.
- •Researchers found no significant change in participants' energy levels or heart rates.
A recent study published in the journal Nutrients indicates that the aroma of freshly brewed coffee may influence human mood and brain activity. Researchers observed 20 Japanese university students to determine how short-term exposure to the scent affected their psychological and physiological states. While participants did not consume the coffee, inhaling its aroma for five minutes resulted in a measurable shift in their reported mood and brain wave patterns.
By the numbers
Experimental Methodology
The researchers conducted a single-group, within-subject study where participants were exposed to the aroma of 20 grams of ground Sumatran coffee brewed with 400 mL of water heated to 85 °C. The coffee was placed 50 cm away from the participants in a ventilated laboratory room. Each subject inhaled the naturally diffusing scent for five minutes while breathing normally, with measurements taken immediately before and after the exposure.
Observed Psychological and Physiological Effects
Following the five-minute exposure, participants reported significant decreases in scores for fatigue, tension, anxiety, confusion, and depression. EEG recordings taken during the experiment showed a statistically significant increase in the calculated relaxation index, which rose from approximately 0.74 to 0.78. However, the study found no significant changes in the participants' energy levels, heart rate, or heart rhythm.
Study Limitations
The researchers noted that individual improvements in mood did not correlate with specific changes in brain waves or heart function, suggesting these systems may operate independently. Furthermore, the study lacked a control group—such as participants inhaling plain hot water—meaning the researchers could not definitively confirm that the coffee aroma alone caused the observed changes. Larger, randomized studies are required to verify the specificity of these effects.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Medical Xpress.
