Research & Ingredient References

Research References

Coffee Fruit Extract (CognatiQ®)

CognatiQ® is a decaffeinated whole coffee fruit extract, and it anchors the formula for a reason: it's one of the few ingredients studied for its effect on BDNF — a protein involved in the growth and maintenance of neurons — as well as working memory, processing speed, response inhibition, and sustained cognitive performance. That mix of a long-term mechanism and in-the-moment clarity is why we chose it. We included 200 mg per serving deliberately to support both acute cognitive performance and longer-term brain health pathways.

1. Reyes-Izquierdo T, et al. (2013). Modulatory effect of coffee fruit extract on plasma levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in healthy subjects. British Journal of Nutrition. Single oral dose in healthy adults; measured plasma BDNF. PubMed 23312069
2. Reyes-Izquierdo T, et al. (2013). Stimulatory effect of whole coffee fruit concentrate powder on plasma levels of total and exosomal brain-derived neurotrophic factor in healthy subjects: an acute within-subject clinical study. Food and Nutrition Sciences. Single dose, placebo- and coffee-controlled; measured total and exosomal plasma BDNF. Full text
3. Robinson JL, et al. (2020; published online 2019). Cognitive short- and long-term effects of coffee cherry extract in older adults with mild cognitive decline. Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition. 28-day RCT in older adults; measured acute and sustained cognitive performance. PubMed 31829793
4. Robinson JL, et al. (2021). Neurophysiological effects of whole coffee cherry extract in older adults with subjective cognitive impairment: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over pilot study. Antioxidants. Crossover pilot; measured brain functional connectivity, BDNF, and neurometabolites by 7T neuroimaging. Full text (PMC)
5. Robinson JL, et al. (2024). Whole Coffee Cherry Extract Improves Working Memory and Response Inhibition: Acute and Longitudinal Results from a Remote, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. Nutrients. Remote RCT; measured working memory and response inhibition acutely and over 28 days. PubMed 39064791 | Full text (PMC)

Citicoline (Cognizin®)

Cognizin® is a patented form of citicoline, a compound the body uses to build and maintain brain cell membranes. We chose it because it works across the timescales we care about: it's been studied for memory — including episodic memory and recall in healthy older adults — for attention and cognitive control day to day, and for brain energy metabolism and phospholipid (membrane) metabolism, the structural side of long-term brain health. We included 500 mg per serving deliberately to support memory and daily cognitive performance now, and brain energy and membrane health over the long term.

1. McGlade E, et al. (2012). Improved attentional performance following citicoline administration in healthy adult women. Food and Nutrition Sciences. 28-day study in healthy women; measured attentional performance. Full text
2. Nakazaki E, et al. (2021). Citicoline and Memory Function in Healthy Older Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. Journal of Nutrition. RCT in healthy older adults; measured episodic and overall memory. PubMed 33978188 | Full text (PMC)
3. Silveri MM, et al. (2008). Citicoline enhances frontal lobe bioenergetics as measured by phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy. NMR in Biomedicine. 6-week study in healthy mid-life adults; measured frontal-lobe energy metabolites by 31P-MRS. PubMed 18816480
4. Babb SM, et al. (2002). Chronic citicoline increases phosphodiesters in the brains of healthy older subjects: an in vivo phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy study. Psychopharmacology. 6–12 week study in healthy older adults; measured brain phospholipid metabolites by 31P-MRS. Full text

L-Theanine (Suntheanine®)

Suntheanine® — The Original L-theanine — is Taiyo's patented pure L-theanine, made through controlled enzymatic fermentation, bio-identical to the L-theanine naturally found in green tea. Its calm focus is clinically proven, without drowsiness, and supported by more than 50 Suntheanine®-specific studies — the most-researched L-theanine. It's further researched for relaxed alertness, alpha-wave activity, stress support, attention, and sleep quality. Best known for smoothing the edge off caffeine, L-theanine works very well on its own. We included 200 mg per serving — the researched dose for calm, focused attention with or without caffeine — so whether your morning includes coffee or tea or nothing at all, the focus feels steady and clear rather than jittery.

To see all of the Suntheanine® studies →

Suntheanine®-specific research

1. Juneja LR, et al. (1999). L-theanine — a unique amino acid of green tea and its relaxation effect in humans. Trends in Food Science & Technology. Reported alpha-wave (relaxed-alertness) brain activity following L-theanine intake. Full text
2. Kimura K, et al. (2007). L-Theanine reduces psychological and physiological stress responses. Biological Psychology. Double-blind study; measured heart rate and salivary stress markers during an acute stress task. PubMed 16930802
3. Higashiyama A, et al. (2011). Effects of L-theanine on attention and reaction time response. Journal of Functional Foods. Placebo-controlled study; measured attention and reaction-time performance. Full text
4. Hidese S, et al. (2019). Effects of L-Theanine Administration on Stress-Related Symptoms and Cognitive Functions in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients. RCT in healthy adults; measured stress-related symptoms and cognitive performance. PubMed 31623400 | Full text (PMC)
5. Baba Y, et al. (2021). Effects of l-Theanine on Cognitive Function in Middle-Aged and Older Subjects: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study. Journal of Medicinal Food. RCT in middle-aged and older adults; measured cognitive performance and reaction time. PubMed 33751906

L-theanine + caffeine

Caffeine is not required for L-theanine to work — the studies above tested it on its own. These trials looked specifically at the combination.

1. Owen GN, et al. (2008). The combined effects of L-theanine and caffeine on cognitive performance and mood. Nutritional Neuroscience. Measured cognitive performance and mood with L-theanine and caffeine in combination. PubMed 18681988
2. Haskell CF, et al. (2008). The effects of L-theanine, caffeine and their combination on cognition and mood. Biological Psychology. Measured cognition and mood with L-theanine, caffeine, and their combination. PubMed 18006208
3. Giesbrecht T, et al. (2010). The combination of L-theanine and caffeine improves cognitive performance and increases subjective alertness. Nutritional Neuroscience. Measured cognitive performance and subjective alertness with the combination. PubMed 21040626
4. Foxe JJ, et al. (2012). Assessing the effects of caffeine and theanine on the maintenance of vigilance during a sustained attention task. Neuropharmacology. Measured sustained attention and vigilance over time with caffeine and theanine. PubMed 22326943

Lion's Mane (Fruiting Body)

Lion's Mane has been used for centuries in traditional East Asian wellness practices for cognitive and nervous system support. Modern research continues to explore these traditional uses, with human studies showing benefits for cognition, mood, and mental clarity — though the number of large RCTs remains limited, as is common with many natural compounds that lack pharmaceutical-level funding.

We chose a high-potency dual-extracted fruiting body extract standardized to ≥20% beta-glucans (hot water + alcohol extraction, no mycelium-on-grain). This form is significantly more concentrated than the simple dried fruiting body powders used in the classic Mori (2009) and Saitsu (2019) trials. As a result, 1,000 mg of our extract can deliver a higher density of the relevant compounds (hericenones and beta-glucans) than 1–2 g of basic powder. We include 1,000 mg per serving at research-aligned dose for both immediate and longer-term brain support.

1. Mori K, et al. (2009). Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytotherapy Research. 16-week RCT in adults aged 50–80; measured cognitive-scale scores. PubMed 18844328
2. Saitsu Y, et al. (2019). Improvement of cognitive functions by oral intake of Hericium erinaceus. Biomedical Research. 12-week randomized, placebo-controlled study in adults aged 50–80; measured cognitive-scale scores. Full text
3. Docherty S, et al. (2023). The Acute and Chronic Effects of Lion's Mane Mushroom Supplementation on Cognitive Function, Stress and Mood in Young Adults: A Double-Blind, Parallel Groups, Pilot Study. Nutrients. Acute and 28-day pilot in young adults; measured cognitive performance, stress, and mood. PubMed 38004235 | Full text (PMC)
4. Nagano M, et al. (2010). Reduction of depression and anxiety by 4 weeks Hericium erinaceus intake. Biomedical Research. 4-week randomized, placebo-controlled study in women (~40s); measured mood, sleep, and menopause-related complaints. Full text
5. La Monica MB, et al. (2023). Acute Effects of Naturally Occurring Guayusa Tea and Nordic Lion's Mane Extracts on Cognitive Performance. Nutrients. Acute randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study in healthy adults; single 1,000 mg dose of Nordic-grown fruiting body; measured working memory, attention, and reaction time (improvements in Serial Sevens attempts, N-Back reaction time, and Go/No-Go reaction time at 2 hours). PubMed 38140277 | Full text (PMC)