Using Caffeine Pills for Performance Enhancement. An Experimental Study on University Students' Willingness and Their Intention to Try Neuroenhancements

Frontiers in Psychology
Ralf Brand, Helen Koch

Abstract

Recent research has indicated that university students sometimes use caffeine pills for neuroenhancement (NE; non-medical use of psychoactive substances or technology to produce a subjective enhancement in psychological functioning and experience), especially during exam preparation. In our factorial survey experiment, we manipulated the evidence participants were given about the prevalence of NE amongst peers and measured the resulting effects on the psychological predictors included in the Prototype-Willingness Model of risk behavior. Two hundred and thirty-one university students were randomized to a high prevalence condition (read faked research results overstating usage of caffeine pills amongst peers by a factor of 5; 50%), low prevalence condition (half the estimated prevalence; 5%) or control condition (no information about peer prevalence). Structural equation modeling confirmed that our participants' willingness and intention to use caffeine pills in the next exam period could be explained by their past use of neuroenhancers, attitude to NE and subjective norm about use of caffeine pills whilst image of the typical user was a much less important factor. Provision of inaccurate information about prevalence reduced the ...Continue Reading

References

May 26, 1998·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·F X GibbonsD W Russell
Jan 25, 2002·The British Journal of Social Psychology·C J Armitage, M Conner
Feb 26, 2008·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·Reinoud de JonghBerend Olivier
Apr 11, 2008·Nature·Brendan Maher
Aug 12, 2010·Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz·A G Franke, K Lieb
Nov 15, 2011·The Behavioral and Brain Sciences·Christian P Müller, Gunter Schumann
Dec 6, 2011·PloS One·Bradley J PartridgeWayne D Hall
Oct 31, 2012·Journal of Counseling Psychology·Joseph H Hammer, David L Vogel
Jun 20, 2013·Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy·Wanja Wolff, Ralf Brand
Sep 17, 2013·NeuroImage·Vincent P Clark, Raja Parasuraman
Oct 11, 2013·Frontiers in Human Neuroscience·Archy O de BerkerSven Bestmann
May 27, 2014·Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience·Kimberly J SchelleMiles Hewstone
Sep 13, 2014·European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience·Andreas G FrankeKlaus Lieb
Mar 10, 2015·Anxiety, Stress, and Coping·Constantin WiegelMartin Diewald
Jan 1, 2014·Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews. Cognitive Science·Martha J FarahRoy H Hamilton
Dec 10, 2015·Frontiers in Psychology·Arnaldo ZelliLuca Mallia

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jun 25, 2021·Frontiers in Public Health·Andreas G FrankeMichael Soyka

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

Questback EFS
SPSS
Amos

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

International Journal of Psychology : Journal International De Psychologie
Eddie W L Cheng, Samuel K W Chu
Telemedicine Journal and E-health : the Official Journal of the American Telemedicine Association
Nam Eun KimEun Kyoung Yun
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved