Track 3

Unit 5

Cognitive psychology

Memory

Page 45

Try it out!

Some people who study or work hard drink coffee or tea because these drinks contain caffeine and caffeine causes them to feel more energetic. And as you would imagine more energy allows them to study or work longer.

However did you know that caffeine may also affect memory? Researchers have found that one interesting effect of caffeine is to cause new brain cells to grow. The idea of course is that more brain cells might result in better memory. Actually most researchers think that the main reason that caffeine may have a positive effect on memory is the first idea I mentioned that, caffeine gives us more energy and more energy makes us more alert, and being more alert causes us to notice and remember more information that seems reasonable, right?