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Do you rely on coffee when you’re trying to wake up for work, get through a long study session or prepare for a road trip? If so, you’re far from alone. Reaching for a dose of caffeine is one of the most common ways to cope with heightened physical or cognitive demand. But what actually happens to your body when you’re sipping that huge cup of java? Pull up a chair and learn more about how the world’s favorite stimulant actually changes your brain’s responses over time.
In this characteristically concise and informative presentation, Mitchell Moffit and Gregory Brown from AsapSCIENCE explain what happens when your brain is “on coffee.” In particular, they take a look at how and why we get tired throughout the day, and how coffee mimics one of the body’s vital chemicals in order to quickly reduce your feelings of lethargy.
This video also takes a look at how caffeine dependence increases. As you may have noticed, the small serving of coffee that uses to leave you jittery and wired is now barely enough to get you out of bed. There’s a neurological explanation for this too, and thinking about how dependence develops will help you plan your caffeine intake in a way that maximizes its positive effects and minimizes problems like withdrawal and extremely high tolerance.
Finally, you’ll discover just what it would take to die from caffeine intake. If you’ve ever worried that you’re drinking so much coffee that your health is seriously at risk, this presentation should help to put your mind at ease.
