The Effects of Caffeine on the Academic Mind
...ytoplasm. The dendrites and the axon are hair-like extensions from the cytoplasm . Dendrites carry information towards the cell body receiving it from the stimulus, such as pricking one’s finger. A typical neuron has many dendrites . There is only one axon per neuron and their job is to send impulses away from the cell body to the next neuron. As the impulse gets to the end of the axon, it comes to a gap in the one-way chain of the neurons , therefore not "hard-wired" together. These gaps, called synapses, need to be filled when electrical charges arrive . As it does, a transmitter substance is released from the axon into the synapse, binding it to the dendrite receptor of the next neuron allowing the information in the impulse to "jump" and continue down the chain . These very important cells make up the peripheral nervous system . With the help of neurons, information can be learning between the two systems that make up our nervous system . Any nervous system allows its organism to collect, process, and respond to information . Without it reacting or adjusting to changes in the environment would be impossible . The nervous system of human beings is special, permitting us to be the dominant species of this planet. It grants us the ability to communicate, solve complicated problems, and have creative ideas , things no other species can do. But unlike any other species, we abuse our nervous systems by the use of drugs. Many drugs exist today. Some natural and some processed. Ranging from price range and availability due to legalities, some drugs are hard to obtain, but the use of one drug is on the up rise . Caffeine is inexpensive and getting a dose is as close as the next Tim Horton’s or Starbucks. With "cafés" becoming popular hangout locations for teenagers, and the fact that levels of consumed caffeine by teenagers has indeed tripled since the 1970’s , curiosity has arisen as to how the massive amounts of ingested caffeine affects the lives of teens , especially at school. Caffeine is a stimulant . It works by blocking the homeostatic system of the body, which is one of the two physiological processes that manage the sleep-wake cycle . The way the homeostatic system works is that it brings on sleep slowly over time from the time one wakes up in the morning by gradually releasing, a gradually increasing amount of the adenosine levels of the body the longer one is awake . Caffeine blocks the adenosine receptors, which is a critical chemical messenger incorporated in the process of falling asleep . The other physiological process of the brain that encourages sleep is the circadian system . This system brings on sleep in cycles, like an internal clock, that releases such hormones as melatonin . Physically caffeine speeds up the whole nervous system by increasing the heart rate of the body, which in turn pumps more blood and oxygen quicker throughout the body. This makes one feel more energized . Therefore if a student in the academic stream wanted to use caffeine to his or her advantage, it would be most effective to drink small doses periodically. In the latter half of the day would be best so that the caffeine will be in sync with the growing levels of adenosine being released by the homeostatic system as the day goes by. It will even off set the circadian system which will pumping sleep inducing hormones at the same time, defeated the otherwise overwhelming systems of sleep . This will keep the academic student mentally alert better than drinking large doses less often or having caffeine as soon as the student wakes up . Other benefits to caffeine is that it will help extroverts, people who are outwardly energetic, sometimes rambunctious, to stay on task and focused. Apparently it does not help introverts, who are calm, quiet people, with the same tasks . Not only does a person’s personality affect the effects of caffeine but other factors do as well. The variation of caffeine sensitivity varies due to a person’s age, body mass, sex, and more. Most importantly is one’s regularity of consuming caffeine. Overtime, one can develop a tolerance for caffeine. For example, an espresso to a regular coffee drinker of four or five cups a day will not affect the person at all, whereas a non-caffeine drinker will be bouncing off the walls . Although there is an upside to this popular drug, as usual there is the downsides. For academic students, caffeine only affects the intellectual speed of the mind, not the power . Ingesting too much can cause the drinker to experience anxiety , stomach and hea...