When the eyes getting sleepy, coffee and energy drinks can make the eyes and the concentration is maintained. But for those who must do a lot of activity at the same time, these beverages would likely reduce the ability of coordination.
A good brain coordination is necessary in certain professions that rely on the ability of multitasking. For a pilot, for example, in the same time his eyes must observe the radar while the ears to hear guidance from the control tower and the hands holding the steering control.
Coffee and energy drinks can improve concentration while doing simple jobs, but the effect does not apply to the coordination ability of the brain while doing many things at the same time. It’s when consuming the drink, coordination capabilities will decline.
This is evidenced in a study conducted by experts from Ohio State University. The study involved 30 people flying school students who were divided into 2 groups and each given a different treatment for 2 consecutive days.
On the first day, one group were given energy drinks and the others received a placebo with no effect. Treatment in each group changed on the second day, the original placebo and vice versa so energy drinks energy drinks so that the original placebo.
When compared, the skills of prospective pilots fly planes in general lower when consuming energy drinks. After deflecting the direction of the plane for example, prospective pilots who consume energy drinks take 10 seconds longer to return to the correct position.
“Caffeine, taurine, sugar and various booster stamina in sports drinks reduce the ability of the body and brain to coordinate,” said Conrad Woolsey, PhD, who led the study as quoted from Menshealth. (*Dr. Conrad Woolsey was involved with the idea, the 3rd author on the article and was not involved with data collection or testing in the flight simulator)
Dr. Woolsey suggests, when coordination is necessary capabilities should not rely too much on energy drinks. Adequate sleep is much healthier to overcome drowsiness, without reducing the brain’s ability to coordinate and maintain concentration.
