fMRI Insights into the Neural Responses to Caffeine Ingestion

• Grant number: 25/04119-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: May 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Neuropsychopharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Bryan Saunders
• Grantee: Luiza Mariana Brito Soares
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/06836-0 - Placebo in sports and exercise: prevalence, conditioning and open-placebo, AP.JP2

Abstract

Caffeine (CAF) is a widely consumed psychoactive substance that acts as an adenosine receptor antagonist, leading to changes in neural activity and cerebral blood flow. Previous studies have shown that caffeine ingestion can influence cognitive and emotional processes, but the underlying neural mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to investigate, through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the neural responses associated with caffeine ingestion, assessing its influence on cerebral blood flow and activation patterns in regions related to cognitive and emotional processing. Healthy adult participants will be recruited to undergo an experimental protocol involving caffeine and placebo ingestion under different conditions. fMRI scans will be acquired before and after substance administration, allowing for the analysis of changes in brain activation patterns and their correlation with behavioral variables. The expected findings will contribute to a better understanding of the neurobiological effects of caffeine, providing insights for its optimal use and expanding knowledge on its impact on brain function.