Gender and pubertal differences in cognitive responses to caffeine

Background: Caffeine has been found to improve cognitive performance in adults, but few studies have looked at children. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that caffeine improves cognitive functioning and that its effects differ as a function of sex, pubertal phase, and menstrual cycle phase in post-pubertal females. Methods: One hundred and six pre and post-pubertal boys and girls were administered an ANAM® cognitive battery before and sixty minutes after either 0, 1, or 2 mg/kg of caffeine. Postpubertal girls were tested in both the luteal and follicular phases of the menstrual cycle. Results: Performance was improved in the 2-choice reaction time and Stroop tasks in all ages. Go/No-Go reaction time variability was significant in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle in the post-pubertal girls. Discussion: Our results were consistent with adult studies in that caffeine improves cognitive performance on some tasks but not others.