Coppes, Michelle (2026) Paradoxical Effects of Caffeine in Individuals with ADHD: Arousal, Catecholamines, and Network Control. Master's Thesis / Essay, Behavioural and Cognitive Neurosciences.
|
Text
EssayMichelleCoppesfinalversion.pdf Download (761kB) | Preview |
Abstract
This essay investigates the paradoxical effects of caffeine in individuals with ADHD, noting that it can enhance attention in some cases while inducing overstimulation, impaired control, or subjective calmness in others. These outcomes are best explained by a state-dependent model in which caffeine’s antagonism of adenosine receptors alters arousal and indirectly modulates dopamine and norepinephrine signalling. Given that ADHD is characterized by dysregulated catecholaminergic function, altered frontostriatal control circuitry, and unstable interactions between task-positive networks and the default mode network, caffeine may either normalize under-aroused control systems or elevate arousal beyond optimal levels. Evidence from human and animal studies indicates that caffeine’s cognitive effects in ADHD are generally modest, inconsistent, and strongly influenced by moderators such as dose, baseline arousal, metabolism, receptor sensitivity, developmental timing, sex, and habitual use. Therefore, caffeine is not a reliable treatment for ADHD, although it may exert conditional and biologically variable effects.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master's Thesis / Essay) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Havekes, R. |
| Degree programme: | Behavioural and Cognitive Neurosciences |
| Thesis type: | Master's Thesis / Essay |
| Language: | English |
| Date Deposited: | 27 Mar 2026 10:22 |
| Last Modified: | 27 Mar 2026 10:22 |
| URI: | https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/37268 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |