• Question: How come caffine makes you hyper?

    Asked by maggie246 to Ed, Katie, Sam, Steve, Vera on 21 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Steven Daly

      Steven Daly answered on 21 Jun 2011:

      That is a good question, and I am not sure. I think it has to do with the way caffeine reacts with parts of our cells, which stimulates chemicals that make us alert and active to be made.

    • Photo: Ed Morrison

      Ed Morrison answered on 21 Jun 2011:

      Caffeine is a chemical found in plants, which they use to ward off insects from eating them. It also has the effect of stimulating our nervous system, which makes our pulse increase and makes us alert and energetic.

      Caffeine is said to be the world’s most consumed drug.

    • Photo: Vera Weisbecker

      Vera Weisbecker answered on 21 Jun 2011:

      That’s funny, this happened to be my exam question for my biochemistry oral exam! Biochemically, it causes an over-concentration of a molecule called cyclic AMP in the cells. cAMP concentrations normally rise as a response to the “excitement hormone” adrenaline, and this is what causes you to get all shaky and increase your heart rate when you are excited or scared. So coffe is like a fake adrenaline, which explains why excitement and caffeine highs are so similar.

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