Drink Coffee, Be alert for Hours!

SYDNEY:

A team of Swimburne University of Technology (SUT) carried out a test with the help of a new optical instrument which proves that coffee can keep you alert for hours.

To come to the final decision Swimburne University of Technology Sensory Neuroscience Lab’s Natalie Michael and Jhon Patterson came forward.

According to Patterson Australian-designed Optalert has been used in their project. This instrument helps to measure the drowsiness. It observes the total duration of the blinking of your eyes along with the ratio of the amplitude and the eye closure velocity when one blinks the eyes.

This Australian designed instrument named Optalert is similar to that of spectacle frames which do not have lenses. Through this instrument intensity of infra-red light is aimed at the eyes. Then these infra-red lights are again reflected back and then the sensors detect this light. When the eyes move and blinks, this changes the pattern of the light that reaches the sensors.

The participants between the age group of 18 to 29 were tested first. They were given the capsule that contains 200 mg caffeine. As per Swimburne University of Technology this capsule is equal to the amount of two cups of coffee. Psychopharmacology also published the study in their issue.

It was found that reaction times improved of those who were given caffeine which lasted for more than 2 to 3 hours as measured by the Optalert.