Caffeine and cognition: Understanding modern-day caffeine habits and caffeine’s effects on complex cognitive functioning

Rowsome, Céilim Kelly (2023) Caffeine and cognition: Understanding modern-day caffeine habits and caffeine’s effects on complex cognitive functioning. Undergraduate thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

Aims: This current study sought to broaden the research on the cognitive benefits of caffeine while observing how we interact with caffeine habitually. This study examined the habitual effects of caffeine consumption using the Stroop Colour Word Task (SCWT) and how caffeine correlates with age while proposing a novel method of observing caffeine consumption habits. Methods: Participants were recruited online through the use of social media. A convenience method of sampling was utilised. The sample completed an adaptation of the caffeine consumption questionnaire revised (CCQR) (n=173) along with a Stroop Colour Word Task (n=84) Results: A Pearson’s correlation conveys a positive correlation between high caffeine consumption and SCWT scores. Age was also found to have a positive correlation with an increase in habitual caffeine consumption. A K-means analysis was conducted to observe differences in groups of consumers. Six groups were created within the sample; an ANOVA was run to determine the significance variables had in creating the clusters. Then the averages among each cluster were observed to determine the habits of this sample. Conclusion: This study contributes new data to an area with limited research; habitual caffeine consumptions effects on complex functioning. Also, this study creates a novel method of observing consumption habits among a sample population.

Item Type:	Thesis (Undergraduate)
Supervisors:	Name Email Hannigan, Caoimhe UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Caffeine; consumption; cognition; correlation; K-means
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > Psychology H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > Specific Industries > Food Industry > Beverage industry B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > Psychology > Cognition Q Science > QP Physiology > Nutrition
Divisions:	School of Business > BA (Honours) in Psychology
Depositing User:	Tamara Malone
Date Deposited:	01 Jun 2023 16:03
Last Modified:	01 Jun 2023 16:03
URI:	https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/6721

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