Influence of caffeine on information processing stages in well rested and fatigued subjects

The effects of caffeine on different information processing stages were examined by using choice reaction time tasks. Independent variables were stimulus degradation, stimulus-response compatibility, time-uncertainty, state of the subject, and caffeine treatment. The task variables were assumed to affect the following processing stages; encoding, response selection and motor preparation, respectively. A 200 mg dose at the beginning of the experiment and a maintenance dose of 50 mg caffeine or lactose half-way through the session were administered to well rested and fatigued subjects, double-blind and deceptively. Behavioural measurements, event-related potentials (ERPs) and mood questionnaires were used to assess caffeine effects. The data showed that caffeine shortened reaction time. This effect showed an interaction with stimulus degradation and time uncertainty. In addition, ERP results supported the view that caffeine increases cortical arousal and perceptual sensitivity. Stimulating effects of caffeine were mainly located at input and output stages of the information processing system. Central processes were unaffected by caffeine. Fatigued subjects showed larger improvements in performance after caffeine than well-rested subjects. The results also indicated that caffeine effects were not stimulating in all subjects: 6 out of 30 subjects did not show arousing effects of caffeine.