Caffeine &

Performance
Stage 1 Psychology

Information quoted and adapted from: Caffeine Research Program . (n.d.). [online] SACE Board of South Australia, Adelaide
South Australia: SACE, pp.3–26. Available at: https://www.sace.sa.edu.au/.
Introduction

• “Everything psychological is simultaneously biological.”

• Our thoughts and feelings, which seem more like mental events
than anything else, are also biological events. We tend to
overlook these internal biological events, but they take place
just the same. For example, if we think about our moods, we
easily recognise that certain physiological sensations accompany
those moods. A sudden fright might make us feel tense, but
physiological reactions can create tension as well. In other
words, psychological and biological reactions are tied together.
Biopsychosocial Model

Biological
• Contributes genetic factors including
neurochemistry and previous head/body
trauma or injury.

• Can also include other biological factors,

including hormones, disease, age, sex,
medication/drugs, alcohol, immune response,
flight or fight, sleep.
 Caffeine
• Biological changes in the brain can also occur as a
result of internal changes to the chemistry of the
brain.
• Certain foods that seem quite harmless (e.g.
caffeine and sugar), or drugs (e.g. alcohol and
nicotine), can bring about considerable changes in
brain chemistry. A drug is broadly defined as any
substance that will change bodily functions.
• Caffeine is one such drug.
 What is caffeine?
• Caffeine is a stimulant that can change
brain chemistry. This then results in
biological changes (e.g. heightened
arousal) and related psychological
responses (e.g. increased speed of
performance in various tasks).

• Biological psychologists have made some

interesting discoveries about caffeine. It
actually mimics the body’s stress response
by triggering the release of stress
hormones. The well-known ‘fight or flight’
response is a typical reaction that may
occur as a result of caffeine consumption.
Stimulants are drugs that tend
to increase central nervous
system activation and
behavioural activity.
Adenosine

• Specifically, caffeine stimulates the cerebral

cortex of the brain by blocking certain
receptors. It is thought to reduce mental
and physical fatigue.

• A naturally occurring hormone in the brain

known as adenosine causes drowsiness
because it slows down nerve cell activity.
Adenosine
• Caffeine is recognised by the brain as if it were
adenosine, but instead of slowing down nerve cell
activity, it inhibits the cells from actually detecting
adenosine by taking up space in the receptors that
adenosine ordinarily binds to.

• Consequently, the brain does not feel tired. The

blood vessels in the brain also dilate because of the
caffeine, whereas adenosine constricts the blood
vessels. As a result there is increased nerve cell
firing.
Caffeine
• Caffeine, however, has other influences in the human body. The
pituitary gland (the gland which controls the endocrine system)
detects these changes in brain chemistry, and brings about
biological changes that are akin to the ‘fight or flight’ response.
• It does this by releasing a hormone called adrenaline (also
known as epinephrine). Adrenaline also causes:
• an increase in breath-rate;
• increased heart-rate;
• muscle tightening in readiness for action. This is why caffeine
consumption physically excites people and prepares them for
action.
Caffeine
Caffeine also makes people feel good (it is a mood modifier) because it influences the release of the
neurotransmitter dopamine, which activates the pleasure centers of the brain.
Caffeine

• Caffeine is usually found in tea, coffee, various ‘energy’ and cola drinks, yoghurt, some sports drinks, and
chocolate. It is also possible to purchase caffeine-free varieties of these beverages and foods.
• There is wide variation in the caffeine content in the beverages just mentioned, but as a general a guide:
• a cup of brewed coffee contains about 140 mg.
• a cup of instant coffee contains about 100 mg.
• a cup of tea contains about 50 mg.
• a can of cola contains about 50 mg.
• a scoop of pre-workout is about 100-300 mg.
• a can of Red Bull energy drink is about 80 mg.
Caffeine
• Research indicates that the administration of
moderate dosages of caffeine can decrease
fatigue and drowsiness, reduce errors, increase
speed and efficiency in repetitive tasks, and
bring about a positive mood state.

• Particularly relevant to sport and professional

athletes to aid in their performance. Also
emerging evidence as to the value of pre-
workouts etc.