Caffeine is an integral part of the daily lives of many undergraduate students and is often used to increase cognitive wakefulness and as a tool to help the learner maintain their focus throughout a long day of studying. The researchers sought to understand the objective physiological and cognitive effects of the caffeine found in coffee, where they specifically focused on heart and respiratory rates, cognitive wakefulness, and the possible moderating influence of temperature and milk. Methodology: Both the correlational and the experimental study utilized a longitudinal within subject design, and the experimental study utilized a double-blind procedure. The correlational study showed the following results: (1) Heart rate and caffeine consumption had statistically significant results in the pooled raw data but insignificant in the pooled standardized data. (2) Respiratory rate and caffeine consumption had insignificant results. (3) Milk percentage and cognitive wakefulness had insignificant results. (4) Temperature of caffeine and cognitive wakefulness had insignificant results. Caffeine consumption and cognitive wakefulness showed statistically significant results in the standardized pooled data. The experimental design utilized a double-blind procedure to test if caffeine influences heart rate. However, it showed statistically insignificant results. This research study provides a solid foundation for other likeminded students to expand upon.
