Mental performance

Overview

• There is convincing evidence that moderate caffeine intake helps to improve alertness and attention (concentration). The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recently concluded that a cause and effect relationship has been established between a 75mg serving of caffeine – the amount found in approximately one regular cup of coffee – and both increased attention and alertness.
• Brain mapping technology indicates that caffeine is not linked to the brain circuit of dependence.
• Abrupt cessation of caffeine consumption may induce withdrawal symptoms in a subset of the population however, these are not generally very severe, are of short duration, and can be avoided by progressive reduction of caffeine intake.
• There are some indications that caffeine abstinence could improve sleep, both time taken to fall asleep and sleep quality, though human sensitivity to the effects of caffeine on sleep is variable and genetic differences are known to play a role.
• There is some evidence to suggest potential benefits of coffee and caffeine in situations which require increased alertness, e.g. night shifts and jet lag.