London, June 13 (ANI): No doubt sipping a strong cup of coffee can help do away with drowsiness, but can the aroma of the beverage also perform the same task? Well, Japanese scientists say yes, it may.

Dr Yoshinori Masuo of the National Institute of Industrial Science in Japan carried out tests on sleep-starved rats, and found the aroma-boosted genes that produce chemicals in the brain to fight fatigue and sleep deprivation.

He said that the aroma of coffee also boosted genes that control anxiety, and made the rats less stressed.

“Many of the genes have human equivalents,” the Mirror quoted him as saying.

Dr. Masuo revealed that his team was planning studies to identify the chemicals in coffee aroma that cause such effects.

He said that such research efforts might give rise to a potential new approach to liven up tired workers who would not have time for a coffee. (ANI)