CAFFEINE alters the structure of the cells in the brain that are dedicated to learning and memory, scientists have found.
Researchers from Israel's Weizmann Institute report that caffeine, common in coffee, tea and cola drinks, makes these cells go "spikey". Their report, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, said the chemical made the thorn-like spines which protrude from cells in the hippocampus section of the brain grow in length by a third. The reseach, by Prof Menahem Segal, hopes to find how this affects learning and memory.