caffine and tolerance

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When one cup is not enough: The effects of caffeine consumption, tolerance and withdrawal on an individual’s energy levels.
Caffeine is the worlds most popular psychoactive compound, Consumed on a daily basis by 80% of the worlds population (James & Keane, 2007; Rogers, Heatherly, Mullings & Smith, 2013). It has long been believed that caffeine has physiologically enhancing properties and is often used to help increase in energy levels (James & Keane, 2007). Drug tolerance is defined as the reduction in the effect of a given dose of a drug less than the original, after repeated administrations (Siegel, 1975).
There are multiple theories on tolerance, which will be used in this study to assist in explaining the effects the caffeine. Previous research has sought to investigate tolerance development, discussing the role of environmental cues such as smell, sight, taste etc. in conditioning theory and the development of caffeine tolerance (Sigel 1975; Poulos, Hinson & Sigel 1981). Conversely, James & Keane (2007) argue that the central cause of drug tolerance is physiological, empathizing the effects of caffeine on neuromodulator adenosine. Lastly, Peper (2004) theorizes that both conditioning theory and physiological theories both contribute to an individual’s response to a drug.
Few studies have been conducted investigating the effects of caffeine and caffeine tolerance on organisms (Peper, 2004). As little is understood about such relationships, it is important to develop further understanding. It is hypothesized that higher levels of caffeine consumption are associated with higher levels of tolerance, it was predicted that, high consumers of caffeine would report smaller changes in energy levels than low-level consumers...

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... with the effect of withdrawal reversal and may serve to explain the lack of support for this hypothesis. Another possible explanation for these results is displayed in the variance of population sample size, with a significant variance the number in low-high consumers.

With approximately 80% of the worlds’ population consuming caffeine on a daily basis (James & Keane, 2007), tolerance levels of the general population are not adequately reflected in the chosen sample sizes. Although limitations may be significant, this study has positively contributed to the limited body of research into tolerance and the effects of caffeine consumption. Future experiments may wish to consider a period of over night abstinence prior to testing to account for systemic levels of caffeine (Rogers et.al, 2013) and also consider the impact that time of day the experiment is conducted.

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