New research shows that caffeine alters brain activity in a way that makes sleep look more like wakefulness, pushing neural networks into a complex, heightened state typically associated with mental performance (Image: Getty).
Researchers monitored 40 adults who consumed either 200 milligrams of caffeine or a placebo before bed. Brain activity was monitored throughout the night.
In people who take caffeine, the brain enters a state called critical mode, in which information processing becomes faster and more active. This state aids concentration and problem solving during the day, but during sleep it can interfere with the brain's ability to rest and recover.
Among the volunteers, caffeine's effects on the brain were particularly pronounced in young adults.
Their brains show a much greater increase in complexity and information flow than those of older people. That difference may stem from biology, as younger people have more adenosine receptors, the brain's natural "sleep switch" and a primary target of caffeine.
Even non-REM sleep, which is the deepest and most restorative stage, becomes more active under the influence of caffeine.
Instead of slowing down, the brain continues to process as if it were awake, reducing the benefits normally achieved during rest. This effect is much stronger in younger people, who may be more vulnerable to the long-term consequences of disrupted sleep.
This study adds to our understanding of how caffeine affects the brain. Rather than simply delaying bedtime or causing light sleep, caffeine fundamentally reshapes the brain’s behavior at night.
Sleep serves many important functions, including memory consolidation and cell repair, which can be impaired if the brain remains overactive.
For those who rely on coffee late in the day, these findings are a reminder that its effects go beyond alertness.
The brain doesn't simply sleep on command, although there are plenty of tricks to help it sleep. The brain adapts to the chemicals it's exposed to, and caffeine changes the brain's normal operating rules.
Unless you're one of the few people with a rare genetic mutation that helps you function better on less sleep, you may want to consider limiting your caffeine intake late in the day.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/khoa-hoc/caffeine-thuc-su-lam-thay-doi-hoat-dong-cua-nao-trong-khi-ban-ngu-20250606034733332.htm
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