1. Arun Noranarith Brain Experiment Research
BIO 310 10/12/2014
1. Background:
Previous studies testing the effects of caffeine on motor performance have suggested a significant impairment in
motor skills. A study performed by the University of California, gave one group of caffeinated and one group of non-
caffeinated adult individuals a finger tapping motor task, where test subjects where required to repeatedly complete a
sequence of 4-1-3-2-4 ona keyboard. Measured by the number of correct sequences and accuracy, results showed
that the caffeinated group experienced a decrease in both score and accuracy (Mednick et al. 2009). Another study
performed by Trondheim University Hospital in Ostmarka, Norway performed a similar test, where two groups of
caffeinated and non-caffeinated adults where given a maze coordination test. Results showed a decline motor
steadiness for the caffeinated group (Bovim et al 2008).
As part of the 90% of North Americans that drink caffeinated beverages (Mednick et al. 2009), I would be
interested to see how drinking coffee affects my motor skills. For the past month, I have stopped drinking coffee, and
am curious to see quantitatively how my brain function is altered with and without caffeinated coffee.
Available on tablets and smart phones, White Titles is a simple arcade game that requires motor skills. The goal
of the game is to tap as many black tiles to avoid white tiles, and the higher number of black tiles tapped on the
higher the score. Before this experiment, I have only heard of the game by word of mouth.
2. Hypothesis:
Consuming an increased amount of caffeinated coffee will alter my brain function by reducing my motor skills and
decreasing my scores and accuracy in White Tiles.
3. Methods:
a. Initial Brain Assessment:
i. Week 1: play White Tiles (5 trials) and record average score for each day without drinking
coffee.
b. Experiment:
i. Week 2: increase coffee consumption to at least 16oz and play White Tiles (5 trials). Record
average score for each day after drinking caffeinated coffee each morning.
c. Experiment variant:
i. Week 3: decrease coffee consumption to less than 8oz and play White Tiles (5 trials). Record
average score for each day after drinking coffee.
d. Final Brain Assessment:
i. Week 4: play White Tiles after returning to normal routine of not drinking coffee. Record
average score.
4. Length of experiment: total of 4 weeks
a. Week 1:
i. No coffee; baseline to compare with experiment
b. Week 2:
i. increasing coffee consumption by 16oz
c. Week 3:
i. decreasing coffee consumption by 8oz
d. Week 4:
i. returning to normal routine
5. Example of data collection table (1st week):
3. Arun Noranarith Brain Experiment Research
BIO 310 10/12/2014
Mednick, S. C., Denise J. C., Kanady J., and Drummond, S. (2009). Comparing the benefits of caffeine, naps and
placebo on verbal, motor and perceptual memory. National Institute of Health Public Access. doi:
10.1016/j.bbr.2008.04.028
