Drinking Coffee Late at Night Can Disrupt Self-Control, Women More Vulnerable

Illustration of drinking coffee late at night. (Freepik)

JAKARTA - Drinking coffee at night has become a habit for many people, whether for overtime, staying up late, or just enjoying a relaxing time. But this habit turns out to have unexpected effects, especially for women. A recent study found that consuming caffeine at night can increase impulsive behavior.

Quoted from the Deccan Herald website, a study conducted by researchers at the University of Texas at El Paso revealed that the effects of caffeine are not always the same depending on the time of consumption. Caffeine drunk during the day tends to increase alertness, but when consumed at night it can actually interfere with self-control.

This study was conducted using the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, which is often used in experiments because it has a nervous system similar to humans. The researchers tested the effects of caffeine in various conditions between day, night, with and without sleep deprivation to see how the behavior of the flies changed.

The results were quite surprising. Flies given caffeine at night showed more risky behavior and were difficult to control. In experiments, flies usually stop moving when exposed to a strong air blast because it is an unpleasant stimulus. However, flies that consumed caffeine at night actually kept moving and even flew recklessly.

Interestingly, this behavior is not related to lack of sleep or hyperactivity. That is, caffeine does affect self-control ability, not just making it more active.

Researchers also found a difference between male and female flies. Female flies showed higher levels of impulsivity than males after consuming the same amount of caffeine. These findings led scientists to suspect that women may be more susceptible to the effects of caffeine at night.

In addition, this study also highlights the relationship between caffeine and the circadian cycle, which is the body's biological clock that regulates sleep and wake patterns. When caffeine is consumed at a time that is not in sync with this cycle, the impact can disrupt body functions, including behavioral control.

This finding is a warning, especially for those who often rely on coffee at night such as shift workers, medical personnel, or anyone who is used to staying up late. Consumption of caffeine at the wrong time not only disturbs sleep, but can also affect the way a person makes decisions.

So if you are one of those who often drink coffee at night, maybe it's time to reconsider this habit. Not that you have to stop completely, but it's smarter to choose the time of consumption to help maintain focus and self-control.