The influence of caffeine on human EEG under resting conditions and during mental loads

The effect of caffeine (single oral doses of 200 mg and 400 mg) on the CNS was tested under resting conditions and while performing a concentration performance test in a placebo-controlled pilot study on ten healthy males. The EEG was evaluated quantitatively by spectral analysis with a Computer Aided Topographical ElectroEncephaloMetry system. Comparison of the averaged frequency content revealed a clear difference between the change in the functional state of the brain due to the mental arithmetics, on the one hand, and the caffeine effect, on the other. Both states of altered brain activity were reflected in a particular topographical distribution of the frequency change with respect to a frontal-occipital accentuation. Comparison of the two periods of mental arithmetics in the absence or presence of caffeine showed a tendency to concentration-dependent differences from each other. Administration of 200 mg and 400 mg caffeine in the relaxed state effected the decrease in spectral power in the theta and alpha ranges. The concentration performance test without caffeine effected decreases in power in the alpha range in frontal to parietal cortex and enhanced theta power in frontal and occipital regions and the alpha power in occipital cortex. The caffeine-dependent decrease in theta power and the decrease in delta power seen under relaxation conditions after 400 mg are not observed during the concentration performance test in the presence of caffeine.