Excess coffee consumption in simulated complex work settings: detriment or facilitation of performance?

J Appl Psychol. 1997 Oct;82(5):774-82. doi: 10.1037/0021-9010.82.5.774.

Abstract

Twenty-four managers who normally consume between 400 and 1,000 mg of caffeine per day participated in all-day quasi-experimental simulations. In a crossover, doubleblind design, they made complex managerial decisions either on treatment with their typical daily dose of caffeine or on treatment with 400 mg of caffeine in excess of daily consumption. The effect of caffeine treatment on various validated performance indicators was investigated. The impact of excess caffeine consumption was mild. Increased caffeine facilitated speed of response to incoming information but decreased utilization of opportunity. No significance was obtained for other measures of managerial effectiveness (such as activity, breadth, strategy, and emergency response).

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Caffeine / adverse effects*
  • Coffee / adverse effects*
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Decision Making, Organizational*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Reaction Time / drug effects
  • Workplace*

Substances

  • Coffee
  • Caffeine