“Venti Americano with an extra shot, please.”
You can find lots of things on the internet. But potentially none will be more important than this.
It is a link to the Developing Intelligence blog over at ScienceBlogs and a post called “Caffeine: A User’s Guide to Getting Optimally Wired”.
For those of you that are too wired to pay attention through the whole thing, here is a short excerpt. You really should read the whole thing, though. The explanations in the details are the best part.
1) Consume in small, frequent amounts.
Between 20-200mg per hour may be an optimal dose for cognitive function.
2) Play to your cognitive strengths while wired.
Caffeine may increase the speed with which you work, may decrease attentional lapses, and may even benefit recall – but is less likely to benefit more complex cognitive functions, and may even hurt others. Plan accordingly (and preferably prior to consuming caffeine!)
3) Play to caffeine’s strengths.
Caffeine’s effects can be maximized or minimized depending on what else is in your system at the time.
4) Know when to stop – and when to start again.
Although you may not grow strongly tolerant to caffeine, you can become dependent on it and suffer withdrawal symptoms. Balance these concerns with the cognitive and health benefits associated with caffeine consumption – and appropriately timed resumption.
5) Finding good sources of caffeine
Despite the huge variety of sources of caffeine – including caffeinated soap, candy, and of course chocolate – the optimal use of caffeine is likely to involve small, hourly doses along with some cardioprotective agent. Given the high solubility of caffeine, absorption time should not be an issue (but if for some reason it is, try gum).
And as a final enabling link, here is an interactive map showing Starbucks’ (Starbuckses? Starbuckae? Starbuckorum?) locations.
