"How Does Caffeine Affect Your Performance
on Tasks Requiring Concentration?"

Abstract of a paper by Parker Lee

     The purpose of this project is to determine how caffeine affects concentration. I would like to know this because I like to shoot and if caffeine helps concentration I will know what to drink if I want to concentrate. The problem is that this has never been determined. So, research was conducted to form a hypothesis. Previous research suggested that subjects would not perform better with caffeine. However, previous researchers have not used a concentration task such as shooting to measure attention. I reviewed 16 previous works. There was also no practice effect from day 1 to day 2, although the conditions were randomized in order to neutralize any practice effect that might have occurred.

     Nine subjects, ages 11 - 67, male and female, performed a concentration task before and after consuming either a caffeinated soda, and, on a different day, before and after consuming a non-caffeinated soda. Subjects were blind to their condition. Performance was measured 35 minutes before consuming the soda, immediately after consuming the soda, and 35 minutes after consuming the soda. Concentration was measured by performance on target shooting. Results indicate that caffeine improves concentration. Small people were affected more than big people (p < 0.01). Children were affected more than adults (p < 0.02).

Junior Division, First Place, Parker Lee; Warren Walker Middle School, Grade 7.
Advisor: James Napolitano

Parker Lee, Suzanne Pettigrew