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Attention and Reaction Time in University Students Following the
Consumption of Red Bull®
Mathew H. Gendle*, Darren M. Smucker, Jason A. Stafstrom, Melanie C. Helterbran and Kimberly
S. Glazer
Department of Psychology, Elon University, Elon NC, 27244, USA
Abstract
In this double-blind study, the effects of consuming a single can (250 ml) of Red Bull®, Sugar Free Red Bull®, or a flavor/appearance-matched placebo on attention and reaction time were measured using a computerized continuous performance task, administered 30 minutes after drink ingestion. No significant differences in continuous performance task performance were related to ingestion of any of the drinks. Effects of Red Bull® or Sugar Free Red Bull® on continuous performance task performance are, therefore, negligible, and are no greater than potential psychomotor enhancements resulting from placebo expectancies.
Introduction
In the past ten years, energy drink consumption has steadily increased amongst university students, who ingest beverages like Red Bull® (RB) in an attempt to enhance mental performance [1]. Energy drinks like RB (which are usually carbonated and contain significant quantities of sugar and caffeine as well as blends of herbal extracts, B vitamins, and amino acids) are popular with university students because their consumption is typically assumed to provide increased energy and noticeable improvements in cognition [1].
RB contains several potentially psychoactive ingredients including taurine, glucoronolactone, and caffeine; and cans of RB state that the beverage “increases concentration and reaction speed”. Due to the popularity of RB, several investigations have assessed the claims of cognitive performance enhancement resulting from its use. Oral ingestion of RB or some or all of its principle ingredients has been shown to shorten reaction time, facilitate attention, and enhance some forms of memory [2-11]. However, these studies have often been conducted in clinical settings following an overnight fast and/or period of caffeine abstinence.
Few investigations have examined the effects of RB in contexts that are relevant to “real world” consumption, using appropriate control drinks, in settings that are free of overnight fasting and caffeine withdrawal. This may be of particular importance, as some researchers have suggested that caffeine’s positive effects on cognition may be attributed to the reversal of withdrawal [10, 12; but see 11, 13]. Students in the United States typically consume one can/serving (250 ml) of RB per sitting, in order to counteract drowsiness and increase energy [1]. Consumption of energy drinks on university campuses is likely to occur at the end of a busy weekday while the individual is in a partially fasted state. In the study described herein, the effects of RB on sustained attention and reaction time in university students were examined in a “real world” context that mimicked the conditions described above.
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©2009 Bentham Open
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