Does chocolate make you remember better right away?
Acute effects of cocoa flavanols on visual working memory: maintenance and updating
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Cocoa flavanols increased cerebral blood flow (known from prior studies) but had zero effect on visual working memory performance.
For years, media claimed cocoa improves memory because it boosts blood flow—this study shows the two aren’t linked in practice for healthy young adults.
Practical Takeaways
Don’t rely on chocolate or cocoa supplements for a quick memory boost before a test or presentation.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Cocoa flavanols increased cerebral blood flow (known from prior studies) but had zero effect on visual working memory performance.
For years, media claimed cocoa improves memory because it boosts blood flow—this study shows the two aren’t linked in practice for healthy young adults.
Practical Takeaways
Don’t rely on chocolate or cocoa supplements for a quick memory boost before a test or presentation.
Publication
Journal
European Journal of Nutrition
Year
2022
Authors
Ahmet Altınok, Aytaç Karabay, Elkan G. Akyürek
Related Content
Claims (3)
Eating a one-time dose of cocoa with 415 mg of flavanols won’t make you better or worse at remembering visual details like shapes or colors, whether you’re just holding them in mind or actively updating them.
Eating a one-time dose of cocoa with 415 mg of flavanols won’t make you better at remembering things you just saw, no matter how much cocoa you usually eat, your weight, or whether you’re male or female.
Eating cocoa with flavanols might boost blood flow to a part of your brain that helps you form memories, like when you're trying to remember names or facts.