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The Effects of L-Theanine
on the Brain





Jill Waters (Jayda)
Mike Brennan
Biology
June 17, 2008

My mother convinced me to start taking a product called Delta-E. She promised I would be able to focus more on tasks at hand. I was skeptical, but agreed to try the product. To my surprise, the product was great! My grades improved, and the day was easier to get through. I became interested in what was the active ingredient in Delta-E and found out it’s an amino acid called L-theanine. My project will shed some light on what exactly this amino acid does to one’s body.
L-theanine is an amino acid found almost exclusively in green tea leaves. It constitutes around 1 or 2 percent of the dry weight of the leaves. Have you ever had a cup of green tea and felt a calming sensation when you were done? That feeling is L-theanine at work. L-theanine stimulates the production of alpha brain waves, creating a state of deep relaxation and mental alertness similar to what is achieved through meditation. L-theanine also is involved in the formation of the inhibitory neurotransmitter, gamma amino butyric acid. This acid influences the levels of two other neurotransmitters, dopamine and serotonin, producing the key relaxation effect.
L-theanine’s effect on neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin results in improved memory and learning ability. L-theanine also influences emotions because of its effects on the increased release of dopamine. Dopamine is known as the “feel-good chemical.” Serotonin, on the other hand, is a brain substance that must be present in sufficient amounts for the brain to experience joy.
Brain waves are classified into four categories (delta, theta, alpha, and beta) each with an associated mental state. Since alpha waves are present in wakefulness where there is a relaxed and effortless alertness, they are used as an index of relaxation. In one...