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HOW WE TEACH

Influence of caffeine ingestion on perceived mood states, concentration, and arousal levels during a 75-min university lecture

School of Human Movement and Exercise Science, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia

Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: P. Peeling, School of Human Movement and Exercise Science, The Univ. of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia (e-mail: peelip01{at}student.uwa.edu.au)

This investigation aimed to assess the effect of a caffeine supplement on perceived mood state, concentration, and arousal during a 75-min university lecture. Methods. This randomized, blind, cross-over design investigation ran over a course of 2 consecutive weeks. During week 1, 10 third-year Human Movement and Exercise Science students were assigned to either a caffeine- or placebo-supplemented group and were subsequently required to attend a 75-min exercise rehabilitation lecture. Seven days later, students were assigned to the opposite supplementation group before attending a second follow-on lecture, equal in duration to that of week 1. At the conclusion of each lecture, students were required to complete a mood perception questionnaire to assess the perceived level of mood state, concentration, and arousal during the lecture. The results showed that after caffeine consumption, students perceived themselves to be significantly more awake, clear minded, energetic, alert, and anxious (P < 0.05). Additionally, students also felt they were better able to concentrate and had a greater level of arousal than when the placebo was consumed (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the results of this investigation show that university students report enhanced perceptual feelings of behavior and mood state when a low dose of caffeine is consumed 60 min prior to a 75-min academic lecture.

Key words: attention; stimulant