Effect of Caffeine on Cognitive Functions of the Human Brain (Essay Sample)

Effects of Caffeine on Cognitive Functions
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Effect of Caffeine on Cognitive Functions
The stimulating properties of caffeine have a significant effect on the performance of the cognitive functions of the human brain. The moderate consumption of caffeine enhances various facets of cognitive functions such as attention, processing speed, executive functions, verbal fluency, learning process, and working memory. The effectiveness of caffeine in arousing the cognitive functions is dependent on the pre-arousal conditions of individuals and the amount of caffeine consumed. Nevertheless, the excessive consumption of caffeine beyond the recommended levels of 300 milligrams per day causes adverse effects such as insomnia, restlessness, and anxiety. The excessive use of caffeine also has negative effects on short-term non-verbal and verbal memories. Though the consumption of caffeine is estimated to be harmful to human health, the positive effect of caffeine on the performance of the cognitive functions of the human brain outweighs the associated negative effects.
Caffeine occupies a significant place in the dietary needs of most people in the world. Caffeine is present in numerous foods, beverages, and drugs, albeit in different concentrations. The stimulating effect of caffeine exerts a significant impact on the cognitive functions of the human brain. The consumption of caffeine influences cognitive functioning such as the working memory, verbal fluency, executive function, learning process, processing speed, and attention. Taking the right doses of caffeine enhances the visual and reaction time, verbal reasoning, attention, and the vigilance capacity of individuals (McLellan et al., 2016). The habitual use of caffeine further insulates individuals from the risks of contracting neurodegenerative and cognitive disorders. In addition, the prolonged use of caffeine enhances visuospatial reasoning and long-term verbal memory.
The unregulated consumption of caffeine is believed to have a few negative effects on the cognitive functioning of the brain. The consumption of caffeine interferes with the non-verbal and the verbal memories well as the recognition and the retrieval memory. The excessive concentration of caffeine in the body beyond the recommended level of 300 milligrams per day has the potential to cause restlessness, anxiety, and insomnia, which interferes with the normal functioning of the human brain (McLellan et al., 2016). Nevertheless, the highlighted adverse effects of caffeine on the cognitive functions of the human brain are unsubstantiated. Further studies are required to provide a better insight into the issues. The consumption of low doses of caffeine reduces anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia while at the same time improving the hedonic tone (Nehlig, 2010). Additionally, the use of the right doses of caffeine enhances the cognitive function of the human brain especially when the performance inhibiti