Effects of caffeine on the trigeminal blink reflex.
The acoustic startle and trigeminal blink reflexes share the same motor output. Since caffeine has been shown to augment the startle reflex, it was proposed that caffeine would also increase the trigeminal blink reflex. In 6 humans, the effects of caffeine (100 mg) on the trigeminal blink reflex were investigated. Reflex blinks were elicited by stimulation of the supraorbital branch of the trigeminal nerve. Following ingestion of caffeinated coffee, reflex blinks increased in amplitude and duration and occurred at a shorter latency than reflex blinks following ingestion of decaffeinated coffee. Since the blink reflex is a brainstem reflex, these results suggest that the psychomotor effects of caffeine facilitate brainstem processing.
Department of Psychology, Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766, USA. schicae@wilkes.edu
Edward J
EJ
Schicatano
D001767:Blinking / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002110:Caffeine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003069:Coffee; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D003069:Coffee; D002110:Caffeine