Caffeine maintains both physical and cognitive performance in night SUSOPS
We studied the effects on 31 soldiers of caffeine on cognitive and physical performance over a simulated sustained operations task of four days and three nights, with sleep limited to 4 hours (in day-light hours) per 24 hour period. Primary mission tasks occurred in the night hours. Participants were randomised into two groups, group A (caffeine recipients) and group B (placebo (control group)). 800mg of caffeine was administered in 4 equal doses over the night hours. Physical performance was assessed during a 4km assault and obstacle course run. Cognitive function was tested by participants observing various real-time activities in the environment around them (OP activity); psychological tests (by portable hand-held computer); response and accuracy in identifying friend-foe target on a military live-firing exercise range; and a task in which the effect of information modalities (audiovisual)
on situational awareness (observation of events in a simulated (DVD) scenario). We found over the period of four days and three nights both physical and cognitive performances were sustained in the caffeine group (A), and significantly differed from the placebo group (B). Caffeine is a readily-available, safe and effective agent at maintaining both physical and cognitive function throughout the night hours in a variety of real and simulated military activities.
