What are the effects of theanine and caffeine together?

Introduction

The combination of theanine and caffeine, both naturally occurring in tea, has been studied for its effects on cognition, mood, and attention. This synthesis aims to present the collective findings from multiple research papers on the effects of these two compounds when consumed together.

Key Insights

Enhanced Cognitive Performance and Mood:
- The combination of theanine and caffeine improves cognitive performance, including faster reaction times, better accuracy in tasks, and improved mood ratings such as increased alertness and reduced tiredness .
- The combination also enhances sustained attention and inhibitory control, particularly in children with ADHD, showing improvements in overall cognitive performance and reduced mind wandering .
Attentional Focus and Brain Activity:
- Theanine and caffeine together increase hit rates and target discriminability in attention tasks, and lower overall tonic alpha power, indicating a more generalized deployment of attentional resources .
- The combination reduces error rates in sustained attention tasks, suggesting improved vigilance over time.
Interaction Effects on Physiological and Behavioral Responses:
- Theanine mitigates some of the vasoconstrictive and jitteriness effects of caffeine, leading to a more balanced physiological response .
- Under emotional arousal, theanine and caffeine exert opposite effects on certain attentional processes, but together they counteract each other's effects, resulting in a neutral impact.
Neurophysiological Measures:
- The combination of theanine and caffeine elicits larger N2-P300 ERP amplitudes compared to either compound alone, indicating enhanced selective attention.
- The combination decreases task-related reactivity of the default mode network in the brain, which is associated with reduced mind wandering and improved focus .

Conclusion

The combination of theanine and caffeine has been shown to enhance cognitive performance, improve mood, and increase attentional focus. These effects are particularly notable in tasks requiring sustained attention and inhibitory control. Theanine appears to counteract some of the negative physiological effects of caffeine, leading to a more balanced and effective cognitive enhancement. This combination may be particularly beneficial for individuals with attention-related challenges, such as ADHD.

What are the effects of theanine and caffeine together?

Summary

Introduction

Key Insights

Conclusion

Sources and full results

The effects of l-theanine, caffeine and their combination on cognition and mood

L-theanine and caffeine together improve cognitive performance and reduce mental fatigue, suggesting a different pharmacological profile than caffeine alone.

L-theanine and caffeine in combination affect human cognition as evidenced by oscillatory alpha-band activity and attention task performance.

L-theanine and caffeine combined improve attention task performance and overall cognitive performance, while caffeine alone shows no effects.

Effects of l-theanine–caffeine combination on sustained attention and inhibitory control among children with ADHD: a proof-of-concept neuroimaging RCT

L-theanine and caffeine combination may improve sustained attention, inhibitory control, and overall cognitive performance in boys with ADHD.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the effects of caffeine and L-theanine both alone and in combination on cerebral blood flow, cognition and mood

Combining L-theanine with caffeine at levels equivalent to one to two cups of tea eliminates the vasoconstrictive effect and behavioral effects of caffeine, but does not have a positive impact on behavior.

Acute effects of tea constituents L-theanine, caffeine, and epigallocatechin gallate on cognitive function and mood: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Combined caffeine and L-theanine in tea improve alertness, attentional switching accuracy, and some cognitive outcomes, with greater effects observed for caffeine doses.

Assessing the effects of caffeine and theanine on the maintenance of vigilance during a sustained attention task

Caffeine and theanine ingestion significantly reduce error rates during sustained attention tasks, but their combined treatment does not provide additional benefits over either compound alone.

Acute effects of theanine, caffeine and theanine–caffeine combination on attention

Theanine and caffeine have additive effects on attention in high doses, with theanine improving cognitive functions and caffeine enhancing neurophysiological responses.

Caffeine and theanine exert opposite effects on attention under emotional arousal.

Under emotional arousal, caffeine and theanine have opposite effects on attention, but when consumed together, they counteract each other's effects.

Time for tea: mood, blood pressure and cognitive performance effects of caffeine and theanine administered alone and together

Theanine, found in tea, may help reduce blood pressure and may explain the perceived differences between tea and coffee.

L-theanine and Caffeine Improve Sustained Attention, Impulsivity and Cognition in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders by Decreasing Mind Wandering (OR29-04-19).

L-theanine and caffeine improve sustained attention and overall cognitive performance in children with ADHD, potentially by decreasing mind wandering during attention effort.

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