Caffeine supplementation can significantly improve a person’s response and performance to a computer game. This has been shown by a study published in the journal. Scientific Reports.
Nine professional male esports athletes participated in the research. Their average age was 20.8 years. All participants reported no chronic pain, insomnia, and no recent injury. Women were excluded from the study due to concerns that their menstrual cycles might alter the quantitative results.
Participants were randomly assigned to receive either three milligrams of caffeine per kilogram of body weight or a placebo pill containing no active ingredient to counteract the effect of self-hypnosis. They picked them up an hour before the match started.
Three targets appeared simultaneously in each round of the game. Participants had to eliminate them with one shot as quickly as possible. Those who took caffeine experienced a significant increase in their gaming performance: They hit more targets and needed fewer shots.
The reaction rate also increased. It was measured using the Stroop test, in which the subject must first read words printed with letters of the color they represent. For example, the word “black” was printed in black letters. And then the task was complicated: the words were printed in letters of different colors. For example, the word “black” was printed in blue letters. The difference in the times required to read the first and second word lists reflects the speed at which the person responds.
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