Effect Of Caffeine (Coffee) On Blink Rates Of Young Adults During Conversation:- Obi, Ucheoma E

ABSTRACT

 The effect of caffeine <311 blink rate during conversation was aimed at determining whether caffeine intake will increase or decrease blink rate during conversation and if these variations had any gender discrimination. The sample population of 100 subjects within the age range of 18 and 30 years, without any significant eye disease were used after screening. Blink rate of subjects were noted and recorded pre and post consumption of 200mg coffee while the subject conversed with the researcher. Mean blink rate preconsumption of coffee was 13.2588 blinks/min while the mean blink rate 15 minutes, 30, 45, 75, 90, 105 and 120 minutes post-consumption of coffee was 8.496, 9.36, 9.9693, 10.6202, 11.1897, 11.9908, 12.4093, 12.6017 blinks/min respectively. The results showed that blink rate decreased by 35.9%, 15 minutes post-consumption of caffeine and by '29.37%, 24.80%, 19.61%, 15.61, 9.56%, 6.41% and 4.96% for 30 minutes 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, and 120 minutes respectively. In conclusion caffeine decreased blink rates of young adults significantly and it had no significant difference on blink rates of male and female young adults. It is recommended that young adults, to balance its pros and cons should use moderate amounts of caffeine