Running head: HOW CAFFEINE AFFECTS BRAIN FUNCTION 1

How Caffeine Affects Brain Function

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How Caffeine Affects Brain Function: Essay

The methodology that I would use for my study is the non-human animal model because

the application of the human model to my research is likely to turn out complicated. The non-

human animal model seems most suitable for my research study because it will present the actual

facts regarding the effect of caffeine on the brain. Unlike the other alternative which implies the

application of cultured human neuronal cells which is likely not to present the ideal outcome of

the study. The human model makes it cumbersome to contend with the animals because of the

complex intersected systems. The non-human animal model is categorized among the present

animal models of studying the brain. The application of the between-subjects experimental

design would be the most suitable for the study because the study would require test of various

effects of caffeine to the functioning of the brain hence it would need the use of more than single

non-human subject for the purposes of the study. Therefore, the application of between-subjects

design will enable the administration of separate volumes of caffeine to the study models and

determine their reactions at the same time.

The independent variable for the study would be stress which will be operationalized by

first defining it and determining how to the human brain deals with it. The study subjects will

also be subjected to different conditions of pressure to determine their behavior when they are

under the influence of caffeine. The direct manipulation of stress levels will help in determining

the effect of stress on the brain as well as the effect of caffeine on the mind. The independent

variable of the study can be determined in two different levels of control and experimental

because the study tends to compare the experiment to a control treatment. Laboratory

observation would be the most suitable technique because the non-human subjects would be

subjected to several laboratory tests. The laboratory observation technique is also suitable
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because it enhances the control over other factors related to the study research like the

manipulation of the specimen brain in the lab and watching their behavior.

Discussion Post One

The method of study in this case is the Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

because this method would be appropriate for studying the effects of caffeine on the brain

because it relays information about the functional properties of the brain. The most suitable

experimental design would be the within-subjects design because the study subjects would be

injected with caffeine and undergo the fMRI to determine the oxygen level in the brain. The

independent variable is the level of caffeine induced and it would be operationalized by

establishing it where the levels of the participant were prior to the consumption in a pre-test by

using both observational and physiological categorization. The dependent variable would be

determined by the oxygen levels with fMRI BOLD response and it would be operationalized by

observational techniques of the effects of caffeine.

Discussion Post Two

The application of the human model seems suitable to determine the effects of caffeine

on the brain in this case because it would provide more accurate results as compared to non-

human animal model. The independent variable in the study would be the varying doses of

caffeine administered two different times to the human subjects whereas the dependent variable

would be the change in the brain functions due to the effects of caffeine. Both the dependent and

the independent variables would be operationalized physiologically and thus the use of multiple

comparisons or the subtraction method would be suitable to determine the differences between

the variables.
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Discussion Post Three

The observational method of study is the methodology preference in this case which

would enhance the control over the variables during the study in order to acquire real-time

information. The independent variable in this case would be caffeine which would be

operationalized by the capability to determine the amount of caffeine administered by the use of

caffeine pills. However, the dependent variable would be the brain functioning which would be

operationalized by fMRI measurement. The most suitable experimental design that would be

implemented in this case is the between-subjects design given the fact that this approach of study

would require several study subjects to conduct the experiment.