The Caffeine Nap
Sleep researchers at the University of Britain at Loughborough did several tests on fatigued drivers to compare the effects of different methods for a driver can use to stay awake. They put the volunteers in driving simulators while they were sleepy and let them drive. Some of the tests included rolling down windows for cold exposure, blasting the radio and slapping oneself in the face to try to stay awake. But what researchers found worked the best was a Caffeine Nap.
The Caffeine Nap is simple: you drink a cup of coffee and immediately take a 15-20 minute nap. Researchers found coffee helps clear your system of adenosine, a chemical which makes you sleepy. The combination of a cup of coffee with an immediate nap chaser provided the most alertness for the longest period of time in tests. The recommendation was to nap only 15 minutes, no more or less and you must sleep immediately after the coffee.
Most adult Americans drink coffee, and caffeine is possibly the most widely used and longest self-administered drug in mankind. Caffeine is a stimulant and is often used when people want to stay awake. The caffeine nap is an example of the paradoxical effect of many substances in the body.
From — http://www.sleepdex.org/caffeine-nap.htm
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Now, if only my Conflicts outline would write itself during that 15 minute nap…
How exactly is the caffeine nap an example of the paradoxical effect of substances in the body? In my research with blood glucose vs. caffeine, it took on average about 20-25 minutes for caffeine to kick in after drinking two cups of coffee. Therefore, napping would not be a paradoxical effect.
I’m baffled by caffeine and it’s ability to induce sleep. I’m not sure if this is proportionate to low blood sugar, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
All I can say is about 30-45 minutes into drinking 2 cups of STRONG french roast (* 4 tbsp per cup *), I am yawning like there is no tomorrow and I fall asleep. I wake up an hour or so later, feeling clear headed, reading comprehension is up, and I’m feeling happy.
I will continue “caffeine-nap” trials, with my studies in Information Technology – to see whether caffeine naps help improve reading comprehension definitely or not. Today could have been placebo.