title: Caffeine gum minimizes sleep inertia.
abstract: Naps are an effective strategy for maintaining alertness and cognitive performance; however, upon abrupt wakening from naps, sleep inertia (temporary performance degradation) may ensue. In the present study, attenuation of post-nap sleep inertia was attempted by administration of caffeine gum. Using a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design, 15 healthy, non-smoking adults were awakened at 1 hr. and again at 6 hr. after lights out (0100 and 0600, respectively) and were immediately administered a gum pellet containing 100 mg of caffeine or placebo. A 5-min. psychomotor vigilance task was administered at 0 min., 6 min., 12 min., and 18 min. post-awakening. At 0100, response speed with caffeine was significantly better at 12 min. and 18 min. post-awakening compared to placebo; at 0600, caffeine's effects were evident at 18 min. post-awakening. Caffeinated gum is a viable means of rapidly attenuating sleep inertia, suggesting that the adenosine receptor system is involved in sleep maintenance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Biology, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neurosciences Research, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910-7500, USA. Rachel.Newman@us.army.mil
authors.forename: Rachel A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: Gary H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Kamimori
authors.forename: Nancy J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Wesensten
authors.forename: Dante
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Picchioni
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Balkin
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D002110:Caffeine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012890:Sleep; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000187:drug effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002110:Caffeine