The Placebo Effect on Students' Belief on Berocca Vitamin Effectiveness on Memory Enhancement

The human mind plays a powerful role in shaping how individuals perceive and perform cognitive tasks, even in the presence of inactive treatments. This study examined the impact of the placebo effect on memory performance among STEM students at Dr. Yanga’s Colleges, Inc., using Berocca supplementation as a conditioning-based intervention. Guided by Classical Conditioning Theory and expectancy effects, the study explored whether perceived cognitive enhancement would persist even after the active supplement wasreplaced with a placebo. A one-group pre-test post-test design was utilized involving ten (10) STEM students who first consumed Berocca for ten days, followed by a ten-day placebo phase. Memory performance was measured using the Buschke Selective Reminding Test (BSRT), while stress levels and self-perceived memory were assessed through the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ). Results showed that mean scores increased from 64.00 in the pre-test to 67.90 in the posttest, with a decrease in variance, indicating more consistent performance during the placebo phase. A significant difference was found between pre-test and post-test scores (p = 0.042), leading to the rejection of the null hypothesis. Findings suggest that memory performance may not be solely influenced by Berocca’s active ingredients but may also be shaped by belief, expectation, and conditioning. Overall, the study implies that the placebo effect plays a meaningful role in cognitive performance among STEM students.