This is super fascinating to me. I've done a lot of olfaction research but using insects as a model organism, so I wasn't up to date on this paper that was published last year. It makes sense to...
This is super fascinating to me. I've done a lot of olfaction research but using insects as a model organism, so I wasn't up to date on this paper that was published last year. It makes sense to me that the olfactory pathway could be used as a means to prime the brain's immune response ahead of any stressors, but I did not make the connection how this would impact cognitive function.
I'm a little skeptical on how well it may translate to humans though. Compared to most other mammals our neural real estate dedicated to smell is quite small. In fact, the mouse's olfactory bulb is massive relative to the rest of the brain when we stack it up against ours. This could mean that there is a lot more influence coming from the olfactory neurons and thus a larger effect in mice than what we might predict in humans. I'm excited to see more work on this though - and now I'm going to secretly hope that when I have mint tea I am helping out my brain.
Time to break out the menthol cigarettes! I do remember a long time when I was in elementary/middle school, one of the teachers (actually a coach) who was proctoring during standardized testing...
Time to break out the menthol cigarettes!
I do remember a long time when I was in elementary/middle school, one of the teachers (actually a coach) who was proctoring during standardized testing week giving all of us students peppermint candy. He said he'd seen research that it improves brain activity or something. So he gave everyone a few peppermints while testing to make sure we did well.
I wonder if this is related. Or if our coach's theory is even remotely true.
I did always feel smarter after a smoke break, and I was smoking menthols. This totally had nothing to do with stepping away from the computer and quietly thinking, and everything to do with the...
I did always feel smarter after a smoke break, and I was smoking menthols.
This totally had nothing to do with stepping away from the computer and quietly thinking, and everything to do with the drug. :)
That said, it'll be great once I start smoking again in my 80s or so.
Nicotine does promote the release of epinephrine which no doubt sharpens your thinking a bit, as well as mimicking acetylcholine which is involved with arousal and learning/memory. So the drug...
Nicotine does promote the release of epinephrine which no doubt sharpens your thinking a bit, as well as mimicking acetylcholine which is involved with arousal and learning/memory. So the drug itself likely is producing some of those effects, especially along with taking a break. I know lots of people report a rush from cigarettes, especially before their tolerance builds up.
Of course, there is a link between damage to the olfactory neurons and neurodegeneration, so that smoke itself might just counteract all of the menthol!
I got into menthol vapes while experimenting with brain hacking and compliance devices for managing executive function. All of the benefits you mentioned with none of the smoke. Worked pretty well...
I got into menthol vapes while experimenting with brain hacking and compliance devices for managing executive function. All of the benefits you mentioned with none of the smoke. Worked pretty well for a few months, during which I felt focused and disciplined due to only vaping while working on my side project. Managed to code up a decent android app during this time, so that was nice. Of course I slowly started to vape more and more outside the specified context of working on my project and had to quit completely to avoid having long term dependence. I still feel like those few months were some of my best in terms of learning and effort in my spare time. Wouldn't try it again though since addiction is certain for me. Well, maybe unless I start showing signs of Alzheimer's. Could be worth it then.
i had the exact same experience of a teacher giving peppermints during standardized testing days, saying that the smell of peppermint helps you think. I wonder what the source of that story is
i had the exact same experience of a teacher giving peppermints during standardized testing days, saying that the smell of peppermint helps you think. I wonder what the source of that story is
the research I'd heard about on peppermint candy is purely behavioral -- you have peppermint candy while studying and then having peppermint candy during the test helps your ability to remember...
the research I'd heard about on peppermint candy is purely behavioral -- you have peppermint candy while studying and then having peppermint candy during the test helps your ability to remember what you studied. Not sure if any research actually showed the peppermint itself having the effect on its own.
oh yeah it's not really what's going on in this menthol study but I wouldn't be surprised if these teachers half-remembering about this is why they're giving out peppermints
oh yeah it's not really what's going on in this menthol study but I wouldn't be surprised if these teachers half-remembering about this is why they're giving out peppermints
Quick note: this is from a study published in 2023. Original, open-access article here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37187754/
Quick note: this is from a study published in 2023.
Key Facts:
Researchers discovered that inhaling menthol improves cognitive abilities in animal models of Alzheimer’s disease, potentially preventing the cognitive decline typical of the disease.
The study found that menthol aroma led to a reduction in the level of interleukin-1-beta (IL-1b), a protein that mediates the inflammatory response. This reduction in IL-1b levels was associated with improved cognitive abilities in both healthy mice and those with Alzheimer’s.
The research suggests the potential for odors and immune modulators as therapeutic agents in treating Alzheimer’s disease and other conditions of the central nervous system, opening a new avenue for developing therapies based on stimulating and training the olfactory system.
This is super fascinating to me. I've done a lot of olfaction research but using insects as a model organism, so I wasn't up to date on this paper that was published last year. It makes sense to me that the olfactory pathway could be used as a means to prime the brain's immune response ahead of any stressors, but I did not make the connection how this would impact cognitive function.
I'm a little skeptical on how well it may translate to humans though. Compared to most other mammals our neural real estate dedicated to smell is quite small. In fact, the mouse's olfactory bulb is massive relative to the rest of the brain when we stack it up against ours. This could mean that there is a lot more influence coming from the olfactory neurons and thus a larger effect in mice than what we might predict in humans. I'm excited to see more work on this though - and now I'm going to secretly hope that when I have mint tea I am helping out my brain.
Time to break out the menthol cigarettes!
I do remember a long time when I was in elementary/middle school, one of the teachers (actually a coach) who was proctoring during standardized testing week giving all of us students peppermint candy. He said he'd seen research that it improves brain activity or something. So he gave everyone a few peppermints while testing to make sure we did well.
I wonder if this is related. Or if our coach's theory is even remotely true.
I did always feel smarter after a smoke break, and I was smoking menthols.
This totally had nothing to do with stepping away from the computer and quietly thinking, and everything to do with the drug. :)
That said, it'll be great once I start smoking again in my 80s or so.
Nicotine does promote the release of epinephrine which no doubt sharpens your thinking a bit, as well as mimicking acetylcholine which is involved with arousal and learning/memory. So the drug itself likely is producing some of those effects, especially along with taking a break. I know lots of people report a rush from cigarettes, especially before their tolerance builds up.
Of course, there is a link between damage to the olfactory neurons and neurodegeneration, so that smoke itself might just counteract all of the menthol!
I got into menthol vapes while experimenting with brain hacking and compliance devices for managing executive function. All of the benefits you mentioned with none of the smoke. Worked pretty well for a few months, during which I felt focused and disciplined due to only vaping while working on my side project. Managed to code up a decent android app during this time, so that was nice. Of course I slowly started to vape more and more outside the specified context of working on my project and had to quit completely to avoid having long term dependence. I still feel like those few months were some of my best in terms of learning and effort in my spare time. Wouldn't try it again though since addiction is certain for me. Well, maybe unless I start showing signs of Alzheimer's. Could be worth it then.
i had the exact same experience of a teacher giving peppermints during standardized testing days, saying that the smell of peppermint helps you think. I wonder what the source of that story is
the research I'd heard about on peppermint candy is purely behavioral -- you have peppermint candy while studying and then having peppermint candy during the test helps your ability to remember what you studied. Not sure if any research actually showed the peppermint itself having the effect on its own.
That's definitely context dependent learning which is very well documented.
oh yeah it's not really what's going on in this menthol study but I wouldn't be surprised if these teachers half-remembering about this is why they're giving out peppermints
Quick note: this is from a study published in 2023.
Original, open-access article here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37187754/