Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

How and why does coffee effect nerve cells?

I need this question answered today!

How and why does coffee effect nerve cells?????

thank you,
Valerie

Hi ValerieLITN,

This is a very good question! So coffee affects the nervous system because it contains caffeine. The structure of caffeine is very similar to a chemical called adenosine. One of the roles Adenosine has is to transmit nerve signals in the body making you drowsy and fatigued. It does this by binding to neural receptors in the brain and effects your body by easing the effects of stress, lowering heart rates and blood pressure, lowering body temperatures, dialating blood vessels, and slowing digestion. Because Caffeine looks so similar to adenosine, it also attaches to the same neural receptors as adenosine. When caffeine binds these receptors it blocks adenosine from binding them and then all the affects that adenosine has on the body can not take place. So the caffeine helps you stay mentally alert and have faster thought processing because it doesn't allow adenosine to bind receptors to make you drowsy and fatigued. I hope this answered your question!

Amy

Thank you so much,
Valerie

Hi Valerie,

I think coffee has caffeine in it, and caffeine is a stimulant. So I think if you do a web/google search for "caffeine effect on nerve cells" you will get a lot of information. Let me know if you need help sorting through some of it. Hint - the signal transduction through nerves speeds up. I hope that helps!

Tonya