New research out from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre shows that caffeine does not in face perk us up per se, but prevents us from drifting down and losing focus. After 2-3 hours in a work day the brain releases a neurotransmitter called “adenosine” which causes drowsiness and promotes sleep. An espresso timed when this drowsiness starts to come on stops the adenosine being released.
I guess the majority of us are not too desperate to know exactly what neurotransmitter is responsible but more what is the best way to stay on the ball. The interesting thing I found as a person that is hugely coffee dependant is that the best way to ward off this onset of drowsiness and lost focus is to go slow and steady with the caffeine sipped throughout the day. My approach to date has been the triple shot shock method which I thought just had to be the most effective. In the morning of course as to make sure that at a time when sleep actually is an acceptable activity I am not there as an Owl staring at the roof..
“The bottom line: Experts say there’s no harm is using moderate amounts of caffeine to smooth the bumps in life day to day. But if you use caffeine to muffle a constant howl from an exhausted brain, think about cutting back. It might be time to reevaluate.”
Read the full Psychology Today article Here