Behavioral Effects of Caffeine

The present paper will give a review of 10 years of our research on the effects of caffeine on cognition and mood. Research has demonstrated that caffeine has beneficial effects on performance of tasks requiring sustained attention and that these effects are readily observed in low alertness situations (after lunch; at night; when a person has a cold). Although many of the studies of caffeine have used very large single doses, recent studies have demonstrated that beneficial effects can be observed with more realistic doses and drinking regimes that equate to real-life intake. Furthermore, the improved performance can be demonstrated using simulations real-life tasks and in the context of a normal working day.