The Effects of Caffeine on the Brain: A Review

Authors

  • D. Corydon Hammond

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1300/J184v07n02_07

Abstract

The effects of caffeine may often be overlooked in neurotherapy. However, caffeine is a potent and widely used drug which is addictive, has withdrawal symptoms associated with discontinued use, and which can produce anxiety and insomnia. It also has a rapid and profound influence on the brain, including producing increases in beta and decreases in slower brain wave activity. In contrast, during withdrawal from caffeine patients may experience increases in theta and delta, with decreases in the mean frequency of both alpha and beta. Recommendations are presented for control of caffeine use associated with EEG assessment and in neurofeedback treatment.

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Published

2016-12-02

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 2 (2003)

Section

CLINICAL CORNER

License

© International Society for Neurofeedback and Research (ISNR), all rights reserved. This article (the “Article”) may be accessed online from ISNR at no charge. The Article may be viewed online, stored in electronic or physical form, or archived for research, teaching, and private study purposes. The Article may be archived in public libraries or university libraries at the direction of said public library or university library. Any other reproduction of the Article for redistribution, sale, resale, loan, sublicensing, systematic supply, or other distribution, including both physical and electronic reproduction for such purposes, is expressly forbidden. Preparing or reproducing derivative works of this article is expressly forbidden. ISNR makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any content in the Article.  From 1995 to 2013 the Journal of Neurotherapy was the official publication of ISNR (www. Isnr.org); on April 27, 2016 ISNR acquired the journal from Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. In 2014, ISNR established its official open-access journal NeuroRegulation (ISSN: 2373-0587; www.neuroregulation.org).