Effects of acute caffeine consumption following sleep loss on cognitive, physical, occupational and driving performance: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Irwin C, et al.
Published in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
Methodology
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised, placebo-controlled studies of acute caffeine administration following total or partial sleep deprivation, pooling cognitive, physical, occupational and driving performance outcomes.
Key Findings
Meta-analysis of trials of acute caffeine after sleep loss found consistent moderate improvements in vigilance, reaction time, mood and physical/occupational task performance, with doses of roughly 3-6 mg/kg most effective; benefits were largest under total sleep deprivation and attenuated but still present after partial sleep restriction, though caffeine did not fully restore baseline performance.
Conclusions
Moderate caffeine doses reliably offset part of the cognitive and physical impairment caused by sleep loss, but are a stopgap rather than a substitute for adequate sleep.
Limitations
Predominantly young healthy male participants in laboratory settings; heterogeneous doses, timing and outcome tasks; habitual caffeine intake and withdrawal effects inconsistently controlled; few studies examined subsequent sleep disruption or repeated use.
Related Health Concerns
Study Details
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Disclosures
Funding
Academic institutional funding
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