Does caffeine actually enhance cognition?

Question

I have heard, respectively: - Caffeine measurably enhances cognitive function. - Caffeine does not measurably enhance cognitive function in any significant way. - Caffeine enhances cognitive function, but only indirectly, in that it counteracts the effects of fatigue. - Caffeine enhances cognitive function, but only indirectly, in that it counteracts the effects of caffeine withdrawal. - Caffeine has no physical effect on cognitive function, but has a psychological effect.What is the actual behavior of caffeine in relation to cognition? (I'm particularly interested to know if any research addresses the claim that it only counteracts the effects of caffeine withdrawal)

Answer 1

Caffeine is readily and completely absorbed once ingested and is throughout the body water. This includes passage through the blood brain barrier. Its mechanism of action involve adenosine receptor blockade and and inhibition of phosphodiesterase. There have been many studies that were able to replicate the cognitive enhancing effects of caffeine. The most prominent effects of caffeine include improving subjective alertness and increasing accuracy on the attention-switching tasks. Although there has also been studies showing the positive impact of caffeine on both short-term and long-term memory, psychomotor performance, and attention.