Caffeine Boosts Task Persistence, Especially Under Stress
Caffeine may help you persist longer on difficult tasks, especially if you're stressed.
Why it matters
- Caffeine enhances task persistence, particularly under stress.
- Aligns with animal study findings on active coping styles.
By the numbers
- Study: 329 college students.
- 100 mg caffeine increased task persistence by 14 percentage points.
- Initial dose: 40 mg; later increased to 100 mg.
The big picture
- Caffeine's effects vary by task type and stress levels.
- May influence persistence through fatigue reduction or neurotransmitter modulation.
What they're saying
- Users relate findings to personal caffeine use.
- Desire for more specific data on persistence duration.
Caveats
- Exclusions may affect results.
- No control for baseline caffeine tolerance.
- Persistence effects may vary by task.
What’s next
- Better task designs to confirm findings.
- Explore mechanisms behind caffeine's effects.