Need something? A cup of coffee might help.

A new study from the European Journal of Social Psychology reported earlier this year that people might be more easily persuaded to change theirs opinion after they have had a caffeinated drink.

Caffeine, found in coffee, tea, energy drinks and some soft drinks, is rapidly absorbed into the blood stream and stimulates the central nervous system. Caffeine increases alertness and sharpens attention.

Since caffeine triggers information processing, which is key to persuasion, the researchers from the University of Brisbane, Australia, were surprised that few studies had examined the effects of caffeine consumption on persuasion.

To test their hypothesis that caffeine increases persuasion, they gave one group of university students plain orange juice, while another group was given orange juice with caffeine. Forty minutes after the students drank the juice, the researchers gave the students publications to read, which made points contrary to their own opinions.

The students who drank the caffeine-laced juice were more apt to be persuaded by the publication.

But caffeine only enhances persuasiveness if someone is not distracted. One group of students were told to pay attention to the points made in the publication, while another group was told to do a distracting task, like crossing out the letter “o” throughout the text.

The students who were distracted stuck to their original opinions.

“In most ordinary situations, many things compete for a person’s attention simultaneously,” Jamie Newton, an SF State psychology professor said. “Moderately aroused people have more attentional resources available than sluggish or twitchy people, but it’s the allocation of those resources that will influence learning and persuasion outcomes.”

The study also noted that caffeine might increase persuasion because of the connection between caffeine consumption and mood.

According to the European Journal of Social Psychology, caffeine not only increases alertness and decreases fatigue, but also increases happiness, well-being and calmness.

The researchers acknowledged this association and said it warrants further examination.

Pearl Martin, Ph.D., who works at the University of Queensland’s School of Psychology, and a member of the research team, said that caffeine is also consumed in settings that involve “persuasive communication.”

“When I think of coffee, I think of people talking,” Tabitha Harmon, 19, an undeclared sophomore who works at a local Starbucks, said.

She said people typically discuss their lives over a cup of coffee. This open flow of conversation might make people more apt to listen to each other’s suggestions.

“But I don’t think it’s directly related,” Harmon said.

John Rogers, the SF State Associate Director of the Public Research Institute, also said persuading someone by use of caffeine is only going to work if the message is persuasive in the first place.

“When you are tired and trying to study, a cup of coffee can help you stay awake and pay attention to what you are reading. If you pay closer attention to a persuasive message, you are more likely to be persuaded,” Rogers said.