AAQ: Caffeine and Memory

Your response to the question should be previded in six parts: A,B,C,D,E, and F. Write the response to each part of the question in complete sentences. Use appropriate psychological terminology in your response.

Introduction:
The study conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins University explored the impact of caffeine on long-term memory retention. Prior research indicated caffeine's cognitive-enhancing effects, but its specific influence on memory strengthening had not been thoroughly examined. This study aimed to identify whether caffeine could enhance memory retention and make memories more resistant to forgetting over a 24-hour period​

Participants:
The study's participants were carefully selected to ensure that the effects observed were not influenced by prior caffeine consumption. The key characteristics of the participants are detailed below:
Age Range: Participants were between 18 and 30 years old.

Average Age: The average age of the participants was 24 years.

Gender Distribution: The gender distribution was approximately 60% female and 40% male in the caffeine group, and 55% female and 45% male in the placebo group.

Regular Caffeine Consumers: None of the participants regularly consumed caffeinated products, ensuring that the results were not influenced by habitual caffeine use.

Baseline Caffeine Levels: All participants had baseline caffeine levels of 0 ng/mL before the study began, verified through salivary samples.

This comprehensive description ensures that the sample was homogeneous with respect to prior caffeine consumption, thereby isolating the effects of the administered caffeine on memory retention. ​

Method:
The study employed a double-blind trial design. Participants were first asked to consent to a memory test and divulged that they would be exposed to caffeine, then they were randomly assigned to receive either a 200-milligram caffeine tablet or a placebo five minutes after studying a series of images. Salivary samples were taken before tablet administration and again one, three, and 24 hours afterward to monitor caffeine levels. The next day, participants were tested on their ability to recognize images from the previous day's session. The test included some images from the initial study session, some new images, and some similar but not identical images​ (The Hub)​.

Results and Discussion:
The results showed that participants who took caffeine tablets demonstrated better memory retention compared to the placebo group. Specifically, more members of the caffeine group accurately identified new images as "similar" to previously viewed images rather than mistakenly identifying them as the same. This ability to distinguish between similar images, known as pattern separation, indicates a deeper level of memory retention​ (The Hub)​.

Correct Identification of Similar Images:
Caffeine Group: 80%
Placebo Group: 60%

Statistical Analysis
t-statistic: The t-test comparing the performance of the caffeine and placebo groups yielded a t-statistic of approximately 2.45.
p-value: The p-value for this comparison was 0.01, indicating a statistically significant difference between the groups.

Interpretation
Significance: The p-value of 0.01 is below the conventional threshold of 0.05, which means the difference in memory performance between the caffeine and placebo groups is statistically significant. This suggests that caffeine has a positive effect on memory retention, enhancing the ability to correctly identify similar images.
The study concluded that caffeine has a significant effect on enhancing memory retention, particularly in recognizing subtle differences between similar items. This effect is likely due to caffeine's influence on the hippocampus, the brain's memory center. By administering caffeine after the learning session, the study ruled out other cognitive-enhancing effects of caffeine such as increased attention or vigilance, isolating its impact on memory. Future research aims to explore the brain mechanisms underlying this enhancement and investigate caffeine's potential protective effects against cognitive decline conditions like Alzheimer's disease​ (The Hub)​.​

Identify the research method used in the study.
State the operational definition of Memory.
Describe the meaning of the Statistical significance of the results of the study.
Identify at least one ethical guideline applied by the researchers.
Explain the extent to which the research findings may or may not be generalizable using specific and relavant evidence from the study.
Explain how at least one of the research findings supports or refutes the researcher's hypothesis that taking caffeine improves memory.