Yokogoshi H, Kobayashi M, Mochizuki M, Terashima T (1998). “Effect of theanine, r-glutamylethylamide, on brain monoamines and striatal dopamine release in conscious rats”. Neurochem. Res. 23 (5): 667–73. doi:10.1023/A:1022490806093. PMID 9566605.
カフェインとの相乗効果で認知活動の改善
Haskell CF, Kennedy DO, Milne AL, Wesnes KA, Scholey AB (2008). “The effects of L-theanine, caffeine and their combination on cognition and mood”. Biol. Psychol. 77 (2): 113–22. doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2007.09.008. PMID 18006208.
抑制神経伝達物質のGABAを増加させている
Kakuda T, Nozawa A, Sugimoto A, Niino H (2002). “Inhibition by theanine of binding of 3HAMPA, 3Hkainate, and 3HMDL 105,519 to glutamate receptors”. Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem. 66 (12): 2683-2686. doi:10.1271/bbb.66.2683. PMID 12596867.
脳内のドーパミンレベルを上昇させる
Nathan P, Lu K, Gray M, Oliver C (2006). “The neuropharmacology of L-theanine(N-ethyl-L-glutamine): a possible neuroprotective and cognitive enhancing agent”. J. Herb. Pharmacother. 6 (2): 21–30. doi:10.1300/J157v06n02_02. PMID 17182482.