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Suppression of sleepiness in drivers: Combination of caffeine with a short nap
Author(s) -
Reyner Luise A.,
Horne James A.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
psychophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.661
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1469-8986
pISSN - 0048-5772
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8986.1997.tb02148.x
Subject(s) - caffeine , nap , placebo , psychology , anesthesia , audiology , psychiatry , medicine , social psychology , alternative medicine , pathology
Previous research has shown that caffeine and a<15‐min nap effectively and separately reduce sleepiness in drivers for I hr. In the present study, we examined in 12 sleepy individuals the treatments combined, taken during a 30‐min break, prior to a longer (2 hr) continuous monotonous afternoon drive in a car simulator. Nonnap comparisons were 200 mg caffeine only and placebo. For placebo, driving incidents. Subjective and electroencephalographic measures of sleepiness all reflected a mid‐afternoon peak'. This peak was significantly reduced by caffeine and eliminated by the combined treatment, which reduced incidents to 9% of placebo levels versus 34% of placebo levels for caffeine alone. Naps comprising “nonsleep dozing” were still effective.