New Research Suggests Caffeine at Night May Trigger Risky Behaviors, Especially Among Females
Late-Night Coffee? It May Be Making You More Impulsive
A new study reveals that drinking coffee at night could heighten impulsive behavior, particularly in females, even when caffeine levels are the same across genders. This could have serious consequences for those in high-stakes roles like shift workers, healthcare professionals, and military personnel.
About the Study
- Conducted by: The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP)
- Published in: iScience journal
- Subject of Study: Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies)
- Purpose: To understand how caffeine timing affects impulsivity
Researchers used fruit flies due to their genetic and neural similarities to humans, making them a powerful model for behavioral studies.
How the Study Was Conducted
- Flies were given caffeine at different times (day vs night)
- Some groups were also sleep-deprived
- Impulsivity was tested by exposing flies to strong airflow, a naturally aversive stimulus
- Normally, flies freeze or stop moving in response
- Caffeinated flies (at night) showed reckless flying and movement, indicating impulsivity
Key Findings
- Nighttime caffeine led to a significant increase in impulsive behavior
- Daytime caffeine did not have the same effect
- Female flies were more impulsive than males, despite having similar caffeine levels
- The effect was not hormone-driven, as flies don’t have human hormones like estrogen
Why It Matters
“Uncovering these mechanisms will help us better understand how nighttime physiology and sex-specific factors modulate caffeine’s effects,” said Professor Kyung-An Han, Biological Sciences, UTEP.
Implications for Humans
While the study was conducted on flies, the neural parallels to humans suggest that:
- Nighttime caffeine may impair judgment and self-control
- Women may be more susceptible to these effects
- Late-night coffee might affect job performance and safety, especially in demanding or high-risk professions
Summary
- Nighttime coffee can increase impulsivity, particularly in women
- The effects are not due to caffeine quantity, but timing and biological factors
- Findings are especially relevant to night-shift workers, healthcare staff, and military personnel
- More research is needed to understand how these findings translate to humans
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