Sports drinks may give brain a workout

Energy drinks may boost performance during exercise by activating the brain, new research suggests.

Apparently, brain areas can be activated by titillation of unknown and mysterious receptors in the mouth, according to a study in the latest issue of the Journal of Physiology.

The glucose and maltodextrin triggered specific areas of the brain that are associated with pleasure or reward, but the artificially sweetened water did not.

Any carbohydrate in the mouth could improve exercise performance. However, this has only been demonstrated with glucose and maltodextrin and would need to be proven. The study does not imply that athletes do not need to swallow energy drinks during exercise. The research has identified that as well as the well-known metabolic benefits of ingesting carbohydrate drinks during exercise there is a direct 'central' benefit from simply tasting these substances.