Draft #1 of Informative Report

Yanna Sanchez

Ms. Nargiza Matyakuboya

English 21003. Section M

14 September 2017

Draft #1 of Informative Report

The Effects Caffeine has on

Mental Performance

The world’s mostly used psychoactive drug, caffeine.  Evatt and Griffiths state in “Caffeine” how Caffeine is an infamous drug used in altering many mental state aspects. 

Caffeine is a natural organic compound but can also be chemically synthesized, chemical reactions, to be created.  Caffeine is systematically called 1,7 trimethylanxin, in the image to the right you will see all the chemical structure.  The chemical components of caffeine categorized it as being in the alkali function group and purice ring, which if you refer to figure 1.1 you will see the shape of the compound. 

Once caffeine is ingested it is is absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract into the bloodstream.  However, the compound has not barriers it can pass through all tissue once it is ingested into the body.  Therefore, caffeine is found in cerebrospinal fluid, saliva, bile, semen, breast milk, and umbilical cord blood.  Likewise, the caffeine compound can pass from the mother to fetus (Arnaud 248).  The compound remains in the system 3 to 6 hours, depending on the individual.  For instance if an individual smokes  cigarettes or has a liver disease the caffeine will remain in the individual's system for a long period of time. 

Thus, caffeine has proven to stimulate the brain in speed, reaction time, and attention. 

Studies have shown the effect the introduction of caffeine has on speed performance.  This report will discuss the experiments conducted to reflect this statement. 

Studies Conducted on the Effects Caffeine has on an Individual

In Brazil a study was performed on physically active males upon the ingestion of caffeine in a mentally fatigued state (Azevedo et al.).  n the studies participants tested in response to ingesting a caffeinated capsule.  The results show that the participants endurance increased a total of approximately 14% and the effect was due to an elavated mood state.  The results suggest that the caffeine had a beneficial effect on the participants involved in the study (Azevedo et al. 2293).

Speed Performance

Studies show that caffeine has an effect on a speed mental performance.  Caffeine has resulted in the increase in speed performance.  Mental fatigue is proven to decrease an individuals ability to perform a task or activity vigorously (Azevedo et al. 2294).
In the study conducted in Brazil the results showed an increase in power output.  Therefore, the caffeine ingestion  had a direct relation to 14% increase in performance in the active participants.

Attention or Concentration:

Caffeine has also proven to aid in increasing an individuals concentration.  Caffeine enables individuals to cope with their everyday jobs when tired (Arnaud 250).  Based on “Caffeine” by Evatt and Grittiths, the study conducted in The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, to the right in the figure 1, shows the results in participants in a consecutive set of days.  The results show the concentration level on the participants and the notes taken that state there was a difficulty concentrating and alertness in the participants.

Reaction time:

Caffeine in addition has proven to also stimulate Central Nervous system (CNS).  The central nervous system is the brain and all the veins and arteries that enables the brain to communicate to then rest of ones body.  The introduction of caffeine into the CNS increases the release of neurotransmitters, which is a chemical release to communicate information between the brain and the body. 

Conclusion:

Studies indicate that caffeine has an effect on the mental performance of individuals.  It is evident that the caffeine has an effect on the speed, attention, and reaction time of the mentally fatigued individuals.  Based on previous studies the knowledge on caffeine can benefit on a larger study with participants who are not regular caffeine users.  The U.S department o Health

Works Cited

Arnaud, M J. "Caffeine." Encyclopedia of Human Nutrition, edited by Benjamin Caballero, et al., 2nd ed., vol. 1, Elsevier, 2005, pp. [247]-253. Gale Virtual Reference Library, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=GVRL&sw=w&u=cuny_ccny&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CCX3032200047&sid=GVRL&asid=7c39b68f71d7b3545764cd64909033b0. Accessed 14 Sept. 2017.

Azevedo, R., Silva-Cavalcante, M., Gualano, D., Lima-Silva, B., & Bertuzzi, A. (2016). Effects of caffeine ingestion on endurance performance in mentally fatigued individuals. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 116(11), 2293-2303.

Evatt, DP, and RR Griffiths. "Caffeine." Encyclopedia of Human Nutrition, edited by Benjamin Caballero, 3rd ed., vol. 1, Academic Press, 2013, pp. 221-227. Gale Virtual Reference Library, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=GVRL&sw=w&u=cuny_ccny&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CCX3163600048&it=r&asid=022c9098d6c7c19240514fdb840f9b17. Accessed 14 Sept. 2017.

United States, Congress, U.S Department of Health and Human Services. “National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH).” National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), 31 July 2017. nccih.nih.gov/health/know-science/make-sense-health-research.