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Caffeine and Cognitive Performance: The Nonlinear Yerkes-Dodson Law
Citation
Watters, PA and Martin, F and Schreter, ZG, Caffeine and Cognitive Performance: The Nonlinear Yerkes-Dodson Law, Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental, 12, (3) pp. 249-257. ISSN 0885-6222 (1997) [Refereed Article]
DOI: doi:10.1002/(SICI)1099-1077(199705/06)12:3<249::AID-HUP865>3.0.CO;2-J
Abstract
This study presents a test of the Yerkes-Dodson Law (YDL; Yerkes and Dodson, 1908), which is understood to predict a negative quadratic relationship between arousal and performance ('inverted-U' hypothesis), and a lower level of arousal for optimal performance on more difficult tasks than easier tasks ('task difficulty' hypothesis). A number of recent studies (e.g. Neiss, 1988) have questioned the validity of the YDL on several grounds: the confusion of theory and model; observed linear arousal-performance relationships; non-specific definitions of arousal; and poor experimental design. A single-blind modified version of Anderson's (1994) within-subjects study (N = 10) was performed, utilizing graded cortical arousal manipulations of caffeine (100 mg cumulative dosages to a maximum of 600 mg), and four tests of basic cognitive ability in the procedural alphanumerical domain (with counterbalancing of drug/placebo session and ordering of presentations of tasks). The 'inverted-U' hypothesis was supported in three out of four experimental conditions (easy and difficult numerical, and difficult alphabetical tasks; p < 0.05). No support was found for the task difficulty hypothesis. The results are discussed in terms of the emergence of nonlinearity in neural-cognitive interactions as a fundamental quality of drug-behaviour interactions.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Research Division: | Psychology |
Research Group: | Biological psychology |
Research Field: | Behavioural neuroscience |
Objective Division: | Expanding Knowledge |
Objective Group: | Expanding knowledge |
Objective Field: | Expanding knowledge in human society |
UTAS Author: | Watters, PA (Mr Paul Andrew Watters) |
UTAS Author: | Martin, F (Associate Professor Frances Martin) |
UTAS Author: | Schreter, ZG (Dr Schreter) |
ID Code: | 11052 |
Year Published: | 1997 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 33 |
Deposited By: | Psychology |
Deposited On: | 1997-08-01 |
Last Modified: | 2011-08-11 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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