"People who drink more than the equivalent of seven cups of instant coffee a day are more likely to see things or hear voices, and even report sensing the spirits of the dead, researchers say. In a study of 200 students, those who consumed high amounts of caffeine were three times more likely to have heard a non-existent person’s voice than those who consumed less than one cup of instant coffee or its equivalent a day.I'm no longer surprised at the rise in Newage beliefs with most of the developed world fuelled by this drug, lack of sleep, stress all leading to a rise in cortisol levels. We all need to learn to slow down, and chill out.
Dr Charles Fernyhough, co-author of the study, said that it only showed an association between caffeine intake and hallucination proneness, not a causal link."
January 17, 2009
Tripping Out on Coffee?
I'm a tea fiend myself and rarely drink coffee. I'm also an atheist and can categorically state that I have never seen a ghost. In Latte with a ghost to go, please - Times Online covers the study of over caffeinated students to find that:
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ReplyDeletehttp://www.badscience.net/2009/01/drink-coffee-see-dead-people/
Not really. I mentioned that no causal link had been show.
ReplyDelete"Dr Charles Fernyhough, co-author of the study, said that it only showed an association between caffeine intake and hallucination proneness, not a causal link."
Also 200 students is not a big enough sample size for proper data, but one cannot deny that coffee + sleep deprivation + cortisol & stress is not a good mix for mental health.