Coffee's effects revealed in brain scans

Coffee improves short-term memory and speeds up reaction times by acting on the brain’s prefrontal cortex, according to a new study.

Researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to determine how coffee activates different areas of the brain in 15 volunteers.

“Caffeine modulates a higher brain function through its effects on distinct areas of the brain,” explains Florian Koppelstätter, who carried out the research with colleagues at the Medical University at Innsbruck, Austria.

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Judge sides with Starbucks in name dispute

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ASTORIA, Ore. -- A federal judge says the name "Sambuck's" above a hole-in-the-wall coffee shop is too similar to Starbucks Corp. - the leading retailer, roaster and brand of specialty coffee in the world - and must be changed.

Owner Sam Buck named the store after herself. She opened it in 2000, before Astoria had a Starbucks. She got a cease-and-desist letter from the Seattle-based company in March of 2002.

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