A new study has found caffeine’s effects on visual acuity could help to increase accuracy for detecting moving targets. Caffeine has long been known to increase the velocity of rapid eye movement. Still, researchers set out to further investigate how it enhances visual processing and facilitates the detection of moving visual stimuli.
Participants were separated into two groups for the study, and the tests were run over two separate days. Half of the studies participants ingested a caffeine capsule while the other half ingested a placebo capsule. Computer-based tests were used to measure each participant’s dynamic and visual acuity skills before and 60 minutes after caffeine ingestion.
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It was found that participants who had taken the caffeine capsules showed significantly greater accuracy and faster speed when identifying smaller moving stimuli. Researchers believe that caffeine positively influenced their stimulus processing and decision-making. Eye movement velocity and contrast sensitivity were also sensitive to caffeine intake.
“Our findings show that caffeine consumption can actually be helpful for a person’s visual function by enhancing alertness and feelings of wakefulness,” said Kristine Dalton, who was involved in the study. “This is especially true for those critical everyday tasks like driving, riding a bike or playing sports, that require us to attend to detailed information in moving objects when making decisions.”
Visual Acuity
Visual acuity refers to a person’s ability to detect and recognize small details and can be measured under stationary or moving conditions. Moving conditions, also known as dynamic conditions, can provide important information about how we interact with the world around us.
This study is the first of its kind to find that caffeine can improve visual health. Researchers concluded the study suggesting that caffeine can increase the alertness and detection accuracy for moving targets. Caffeine was also found to improve participants’ reaction times.
Sarah began her interest in nutritional healing at an early age. After going through health problems and becoming frustrated with the conventional ways doctors wanted to treat her illness (which were not working), she took it upon herself to find alternative treatments. This led her to revolutionize her own diet to help her get healthier and tackle her health problems. She began treating her illness by living a more balanced lifestyle through healthy food choices, exercise and other alternative medicine such as meditation. This total positive lifestyle change led her to earn a diploma in Nutritional Therapy from Health Sciences Academy in London, England. Today, Sarah enjoys helping others by teaching healthy lifestyle changes through her personal consultations and with her regular contributions to the Doctors Health Press. Also, passionate about following her dreams in life, Sarah moved to France and lived in Paris for over 5 years where she earned a certification in beadwork and embroidery from Lesage (an atelier owned by Chanel). She then went on to be a familiar face sitting front row and reporting from Paris Fashion Week. Sarah continues to practice some of the cultural ways of life she learned while in Europe. They enjoy their food, and take the time to relax and enjoy many of life’s little moments. These are life lessons she is glad to have brought back home with her.
