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Norberto Cardenas

Dr. Nelson

English 1301

November 2, 2022

Analysis: Study of Kava on cheerfulness and cognitive enhancement

Clinical experimentation of phytopharmaceuticals (plant medicines) is constructive to

society because of the constant possibility of the discovery of new medicines. Thus, studies on

herbs that influence the state of mind of an individual should be pursued. A particular plant,

Kava, a plant that is used recreationally to promote relaxation, is one herb that has been closely

looked at. Thompson, et al. scientific research article investigates Kava-kava on its potential to

enhance cognitive performance and harbor cheerful moods. According to the authors, kava does

elevate mood and enhance cognition. Their goal is to increase the body of information around

kava and inspire people to engage in their own exploration. The researchers present their

findings in an organized way in the article "Enhanced cognitive performance and cheerful mood

by standardized extracts of Piper methysticum (Kava-kava)" by Thompson, et al. The authors'

success in persuading other scientists that Kava-kava improves mood and cognition is high

because they demonstrate their credibility, people skills, and logical tests.

The organization of the article into sections that break down the clinical experiments

(e.g., Materials and methods, drug schedule, cognition tests, and others), along with the use of

psychopharmacology jargon, demonstrate the authors' expertise in the field of study of the

researched materials, as well as how they were prepared and set up in the experiments

(Thompson et al.). The introduction, materials and techniques, results, and discussion are the

four major components of the text. These sections provide readers with a simple road map that
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enables them to search the study for a particular piece of information. For example, if an

investigator wanted to know what type of people were involved in the study, the viewer could

look through the article and find the subheading “participants” and read the following: “Twenty

Kava-naive healthy volunteers (11 female, 9 male) recruited on the campus of the University of

Hertfordshire” (Thompson, et al. 244). When reviewing the previous quote, it could be

concluded that persons wanting information about the participants of the study would come to

learn that the participants are college students and had no knowledge about Kava-kava. The

headings also demonstrate organization which gives authority to the authors’.  Along with the

organization of the article, the use of jargon highlights the authors’ specific knowledge about

psychopharmacology and Kava-kava. The authors’ use of jargon starts right at the

introduction, “The extract contains at least six pharmacologically active compounds, referred to

as kavapyrones (Dharmaratne et al., 2002), which mediate the local anaesthetic, sedating,

anticonvulsive, muscle-relaxant and sleep stimulating effects of the plant” (Thompson, et al.

243). The jargon used in this quote (ex, anaesthetic) would not be recognized by a normal

member of the community. Jargon in the paper builds credibility via knowledge. Structural

components and specific scientific diction establish an authoritative appeal and ultimately fulfills

the purpose of the article to persuade readers that the finding of their clinical research is

accurate. 

Math is used in the study to measure Kava-kava’s effect on mood and cognition, for the

use of math to determine participants mental state is effective since mathematics is factual and

logical. Logically, the math utilized in the study adds legitimacy to the results. Equations were

used in the calculations of mental states; furthermore, the equation (t2-t1)= (t meaning test)

subtracted the scores of tests taken by participants before and after the experiment (Thompson, et
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al. 246). These scores allowed the psychopharmacologists to compare participants’ scores and

come up with results. Results were compared to the results of other research articles, and the

outcomes were similar. These other research articles that were used to compare were old and had

a sense of credibility. This type of outsourcing was logical and made the viewer believe the

claims of the article.

The research papers showcase different charts and graphs to show how legitimate and

factual their study is. Thompson, et al. also use charts and graphs to appeal to logic. For instance,

in one graph, the authors demonstrated the difference in cheerfulness test scores from the

placebo group versus the group who ingested kava. When analyzing the graph, it is evident that

the group who took kava had higher scores than the placebo group. Observation makes viewers

make a logical decision: to accept the findings of the study more readily. Appeal to logic in the

article conserved the viewers belief that the authors’ work is legitimate.
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Fig. 1. Thompson Richard, et al. Enhanced cognitive performance and cheerful mood by

standardized extracts of piper methysticum (Kava-kava), May 5, 2004.

The researchers paper is talks to people and touches on their emotions. The discussion

portion brought out an emotional response in individuals and galvanized self-reflection. The first

thing that was found was the sentences that informed the reader of the aspects that the

experiments failed to accomplish. In the sentence, “The specific kavapyrones, which mediate the

beneficial effects of the whole extract on cognition, still have to be determined,” the text notes

undiscovered information and, consequently, calls to the audience members' curiosity

(Thompson, et al. 248). Now, scientists whose interests lay in the research of kava may take into
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their own efforts and attempt to identify the kavapyrone that affects cognition. This appeal to

curiosity that evokes different emotions, will lead readers to engage in the writings of the

authors’. The second thing–that was overlooked–was the heading itself: discussion. The

discussion title of the papers further engaged readers. It is probable that the word ‘discussion’

might make some readers feel as if they are being addressed and cause emotions of belonging.

Final notations: the diction and sentences that excite the reader. Instead of just stating the

outcome of the results, the authors’ purposefully chose diction in some sentences to excite

readers–no doubt the researchers were also excited–and engage them with the research papers.

For example, the sentence, “The present study provides evidence that a single dose of Kava can

enhance cognitive performance in normal volunteers and can increase positive affect related to

exhilaration depending on the subjects’ disposition for cheerful mood,” is promising and causes

viewers to be interested since enhancement of cognitive performance is a common value among

working people–an appeal to ethos (Thompson, et al. 249). The use of pathos in the article

through the discussion section helps the author's purpose to persuade readers. 

A sense of urgency that is logical is used to attach readers to the research of the article. In

the introduction, the authors create a sense of logical urgency when they say, “In the search for

alternatives to benzodiazepines (BZDs), Kava extract is currently being considered for its

potential. . .” (Thompson, et al. 243). Then, they proceed to cite the following: “In some of the

studies, Kava extract at therapeutically effective doses even compared favourably to BZDs and

tricyclic antidepressants but without the side effects commonly seen with these drugs (Malsch

and Kieser, 2001; Volz and Kieser, 1997)” (Thompson, et al. 243). When the authors’ use this

topic of “benzodiazepine replacement” and state that kava does not have the same negative side
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effect, they are creating urgency that is logical. The strategy of urgency deployed by the authors

makes the audience more willingly to take the clinical study as legitimate.

The goal of Thompson, et al. of their findings was to persuade their readers of the validity

of kava-beneficial kava's effect on mood and cognitive function. The article's division into

sections and the authors' use of jargon succeed in making an impression on readers. Charts and

mathematics help to further establish credibility. Readers are drawn into the text by the

discussion section, which leaves them impressed. Finally, the authors' strategy of instilling a

sense of urgency in their readers is clever because it increases people's willingness to embrace

the study. The authors' claims were ultimately believed because of how well they were organized

and how effectively they used arguments.

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Work cited

Thompson, Richard, et al. “Human Psychopharmacology Clinical and Experimental - Enhanced

cognitive performance and cheerful mood by standardized extracts of Piper methysticum

(Kava-kava).” Vol. 19, Wiley InterScience, May 5, 2004, https://doi.org/10.1002/hup.581

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