{"id":39053,"date":"2023-05-19T13:18:28","date_gmt":"2023-05-19T03:18:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.latrobe.edu.au\/mylatrobe\/?p=39053"},"modified":"2023-05-25T11:20:17","modified_gmt":"2023-05-25T01:20:17","slug":"caffeine-can-it-help-or-hinder-our-studying-abilities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.latrobe.edu.au\/mylatrobe\/caffeine-can-it-help-or-hinder-our-studying-abilities\/","title":{"rendered":"Caffeine: can it help or hinder our studying abilities?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Caffeine is abundantly found in common foods such as coffee, black tea, chocolate, soft drinks, and energy drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caffeine is a natural stimulant. The stimulant action of caffeine increases the activity in our brain and nervous system, creating the ability to feel refreshed and ready to concentrate. This is why a lot of people tend to become physically and mentally dependent on caffeine to function normally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we continue to eat or drink caffeine, our tolerance to caffeine decreases, meaning we require even more caffeine to achieve the same effect. How we react to caffeine is dependent on everyone\u2019s unique body mass, health, and metabolism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The benefits of coffee are very attractive to university students, specifically when we spend a lot of our night time cramming last-minute information for tests and finishing off our assignments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is so attractive about caffeine for students?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Enhances short-term memory<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caffeine promotes alertness and enhances our ability to concentrate, allowing us to absorb new information more effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Improves mood<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Coffee increases the levels of dopamine in our brains, causing us to feel less blue and more refreshed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Are there some side effects?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    On the other hand, the time we reach for a cup of coffee can affect our sleep and further decline our ability to concentrate and feel refreshed for study in the morning. Having caffeine in the late afternoon and evening allows the alertness and concentration-promoting effects of caffeine to interfere with the ability to have restorative sleep. So, if we are having too much caffeine or caffeine at the wrong times, what could happen?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You could experience increased symptoms of:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. Anxiety<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Sleeplessness<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Dizziness<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. Rapid heartbeat<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Tips:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n