Caffeine & Focus

Caffeine is widely known as a mild stimulant. People drink coffee or tea for a quick pick-me-up, or use an energy drink or over-the-counter caffeine pill to help them stay awake. Studies show that consuming caffeine may help your mental focus in addition to waking you up and giving you a temporary energy boost.

Definition

Caffeine is a naturally-occurring substance in plants like tea leaves, cocoa and coffee beans that acts as a mild stimulant drug when consumed by humans. The substance is found in popular foods and drinks, like chocolate, tea, coffee and cola soft drinks. About 90 percent of adults in the United States consume caffeine daily in some form, according to Jane Collingwood of the PsychNet website, and many experience wakefulness and increased mental focus.

Effects

Multiple studies show that caffeine improves mental focus, according to a 2010 research review by researchers from the Cochrane Injuries Group and the London School of Hygiene. Caffeine improved cognitive abilities and improved reasoning ability, according to the studies, and was more effective at increasing alertness than taking a nap. The drug, however, does not improve language skills and verbal ability.

Benefits

Improved focus from caffeine use has several benefits if the drug is used appropriately. Shift workers who use it to eliminate fatigue while on the job might make fewer mistakes and reduce the number of on-the-job injuries caused by fatigue and inattention, according to the Consumer Reports Health website. People who work regular hours but feel fatigued in the afternoon can improve their focus with coffee or other caffeinated beverages, and students can use caffeine to help them concentrate while studying for tests. The drug can also benefit people suffering from jet lag.

Drawbacks

Caffeine helps increase focus but can impair short-term memory, according to Collingwood. The drug also causes undesirable effects in some people, like anxiety and irritable mood. Caffeine taken in sugared beverages like soda or sweet tea, or eaten in chocolate, adds dietary sugar that can lead to weight gain. Using caffeine regularly to increase focus, then abruptly stopping the intake, leads to withdrawal symptoms like headache, fatigue and nervousness.

Warning

Although occasional caffeine use for increasing focus is harmless for most people, ongoing use of large amounts of it can have negative long-term effects. Heavy use may lead to a condition called caffeinism, which leads to anxiety, twitching muscles, headaches, sleeplessness, heart palpitations and gastrointestinal problems, Collingwood warns. Children should not consume caffeine because it affects them more strongly due to their smaller body size and can cause bad moods and negative behavioral effects.