A recent scientific study conducted by researchers at the University of Texas has revealed that consuming caffeine, particularly at night, may lead to an increase in impulsive behavior, potentially resulting in reckless actions, especially among females.
اضافة اعلان
The findings, published in the journal iScience, used fruit flies (Drosophila) as a model to explore how nighttime caffeine intake affects behavioral control. The species was chosen due to its genetic and neurological similarities to humans, making it a reliable model for studying complex behaviors.
Study Details:
According to Dr. Paul Sabandal, assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Texas, caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive substance in the world, with about 85% of U.S. adults using it regularly.
The study was designed to explore whether the timing of caffeine intake plays a role in behavioral outcomes.
Researchers introduced caffeine into the fruit flies’ diet under various conditions, including:
Different doses of caffeine
Daytime vs. nighttime consumption
Sleep deprivation
The team then assessed impulsivity by measuring the flies’ ability to restrain movement in response to strong air puffs—a method used to simulate a stressful stimulus.
Key Findings:
Flies that consumed caffeine at night were significantly more impulsive, failing to restrain movement and instead displaying reckless flying behaviors.
In contrast, flies that consumed caffeine during the daytime did not exhibit the same level of impulsivity.
Gender Differences:
Interestingly, the effects were more pronounced in female flies, despite both sexes having similar caffeine levels in their bodies.
Researcher Kyung-An Han noted that although female flies do not possess human hormones such as estrogen, this suggests that genetic or physiological factors may make females more sensitive to caffeine’s behavioral effects.
Han emphasized that understanding these mechanisms could offer deeper insights into how circadian biology and sex-based physiological differences influence caffeine’s impact on behavior.
Caution and Implications:
The research team warned that the findings may have real-world implications for:
Night shift workers
Healthcare professionals
Military personnel
—especially females in these groups, who may be more vulnerable to impulsive or risky behavior due to nighttime caffeine consumption.
The study concludes with a recommendation to reconsider the timing of caffeine intake, as it may have a significant effect on behavioral control, particularly during night hours.
