EFFECT OF CAFFEINE ON COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS 11

Effect of Caffeine on Cognitive Functions

Shery-Lyn Sallave

Livingston-Research
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About ninety percent of people in the world consumes caffeine, 54% of which is derived

from coffee and tea accounts for about 43%. Caffeine is the most consumed psychostimulant in

the world that elps boost our cognitive functions - mental abilities, including learning, thinking,

reasoning, remembering, problem solving, decision making, and attention.

From the gastrointestinal tract, caffeine is rapidly absorbed with plasma levels at peak by

60–90 minutes after digestion. Urine is a poor method of assessing caffeine exposure, as less

than 6% of a caffeine dose is excreted (Thomas 2003). Caffeine is metabolized, mostly in the

liver by the P45 enzyme system, producing a range of metabolites, including dimethyl xanthine,

monomethyl xanthine and uric acid. The average half-life of caffeine is 2.5 to 4.5 hours but can

vary from 1 to 10 hours in certain individuals (ANZFA 2000). Caffeine is believed to impact on

our cognitive function by blocking the adenosine receptors (A1, A2a, A2b and A3) and has been

related to the regulation of heart rate, the contraction/relaxation of cardiac and smooth muscles,

and the neural signaling in the central nervous system (CNS).

Cognitive functioning, as mentioned earlier are higher order mental processes that help us

gather and process information. A study conducted by Haskeil et al. (2005) reported a positive

impact of caffeine on an experiment between habitual coffee drinkers and non drinkers. Habitual

drinkers outperformed the non drinkers. The same result reflected on a study by Smit & Rogers

(2000) where 23 habitual caffeine users participated and it was also found out that habitual

caffeine users demonstrated tolerance to the thirst-inducing effects of caffeine but not to the

performance-enhancing and mood effects.

Further studies about caffeine were conducted wherein they considered other factors such

as dosage and test subject’s condition (i.e. sleep deprived, gender). Brunyé et al. (2010b) utilized

the Attention Network Test (ANT) to evaluate the effects of caffeine on conflict resolution and
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impulsivity inhibition in rested volunteers. It was found out that doses of approximately 40–300

mg can improve cognitive function in rested individuals, whereas doses 200–500 mg ingested

approximately 1 hour prior to exercise can enhance physical performance. However, response to

a given dose shows large inter-individual variation.Yerkes & Dodson (1908) inverted U

hypothesis shows that caffeine, in doses up to approximately 300 mg, enhances a wide array of

basic cognitive functions with minimal side effects by preventing alertness and attention

decrements associated with suboptimal arousal.

As per Childs & de Wit (2006), regular exposure to caffeine increases tolerance to

cognitive and mood effects. This point was also highlighted by a number of studies involving

comparisons between low/non-users and habitual caffeine users. Habitual users appeared to

experience greater cognitive or mood effects compared with low/non-users,which is surprising as

tolerance would be expected to blunt any effects. This was even the case when the caffeine as

supplied as capsules, rather than tea or coffee, which could have raised expectations among

regular consumers of these beverages. Caffeine has also been reported to prevent cognitive

decline in healthy subjects but the results of the studies are heterogeneous, some finding no age-

related effect while others reported effects only in one sex and mainly in the oldest population.

Indeed, conclusions of studies prove that caffeine consumption affects our cognitive

functions. However, the effect varies depending on some factors such as dosage & condition of

the user. Further studies will unfold more benefits or discover risks from caffeine consumption.

Large scale studies need to be undertaken to affirm caffeine’s efficacy on specific

cognitive functions.
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References

Smit HJ & Rogers PJ (2000). Effects of low doses of caffeine on cognitive performance, mood

and thirst in low and higher caffeine consumers. Psychopharmacology 152: 167–73

Thomas B (2003). Caffeine and Health: A Review. Report commissioned by Unilever Bestfoods,

UK.

ANZFA (Australian New Zealand Food Authority) (2000). Report of the Expert Working Group

on the Safety Aspects of Dietary Caffeine. ANZFA: Canberra/Wellington.

Haskell CF, Kennedy DO, Wesnes KA et al. (2005). Cognitive and Mood Improvements of

Caffeine in Habitual Consumers and habitual non-consumers of caffeine.

Psychopharmacology 813–25.

Brunyé et al., (2010). Caffeine Modulates Attention Network Function. pp. 181-188

R.W. Yerkes, J.D. Dodson. The relation of strength of stimulus to rapidity of habit-formation.

J. Compd. Neurol. Psycho, 18 (1908), pp. 459-482

E. Childs, H. deWit (2006). Subjective, behavioral and physiological effects of acute caffeine in

light, nondependent users. Psychopharmacology, 185 (2006), pp. 514-523