The Effects of Caffeine on Mood and Cognitive Performance

Caffeine is a widely consumed psychoactive stimulant that affects the brain and nervous system. This study used a double-blinded, randomised, between-subjects design to confirm the effects of caffeine on mood and cognitive performance. Mood was assessed using the Profile of Mood States, focusing on depression and tension. Cognitive performance was assessed using the Parametric Go/No-Go task, focusing on reaction time and target identification accuracy. This study included 55 participants aged 19 to 49 years. Participants abstained from caffeine consumption six hours prior to the session. Thirty participants received 200mg of caffeine, while 25 received placebo of 0mg caffeine. Results showed no significant effects of caffeine on depression, tension, and identification accuracy. However, the caffeine group demonstrated significantly lower reaction times than the placebo group. These findings suggest that caffeine may enhance reaction time in some individuals, but does not influence mood or cognitive performance.