Does caffeine-induced arousal reduce mental workload during high-demanding vigilance task?

Abstract

This paper investigates whether or not caffeine-induced arousal reduces mental workload of high - demanding vigilance task. Thirty students of Banaras Hindu University (14 men, 16 women, age range: 19-26 years) participated in this study. A 2 (Mental workload: Pre and Post) × 4 (Treatment conditions: placebo, 100mg, 150mg, 200mg) factorial design with repeated measure on last factor was used. NASA-Task Load Index scale was used before (pre-session) and after (post-session) final sessions for the assessment of mental workload associated with the vigilance task. Perceptual sensory task in the shape of square was used as the vigilance task. Participants were required to detect infrequently occurring critical signals. The task was designed on SuperLab® 4.0 and displayed through a 15quot; colour monitor. The obtained post weighted mean scores on global mental workload revealed that participants of placebo condition perceived high workload than did any of the three caffeine conditions. These weighted mean scores of global mental workload with regard to treatment conditions suggested caffeine benefit occurring differently from pre- to posttask sessions. © Journal of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology.