Java (Not the CS Kind)

Anvi Padiyar and Anjali Pagidi
Edited by Teknos 2019-2020 Staff

At our tech-centered high school, complaints about Java and computer science classes are thrown around all day, most likely followed by the groans of students mumbling "I need coffee.” However, these two terms have more in common than you may think. Another name for coffee is java, named after the location of where it is most commonly found. In the 17th century, Dutch travelers brought coffee beans to Southwest Asia, including places such as Bali, Sumatra, and a small island in Indonesia known as Java. The travelers called the coffee exported from this island the java variety, and over time java became known as a term for coffee in general [8]. However, what is this mysterious substance made of and why is it so addictive?

Caffeine is a Central Nervous System Stimulant (CNSS) [8], which stimulates the brain by quickening physical and mental processes [1]. It is found in many everyday drinks; in fact, about 90% of adult Americans drink caffeinated beverages, such as coffee or tea, daily [7]. While there is significant evidence that caffeine can heighten senses and increase your focus and attention, withdrawal from caffeine can also affect your daily life. Experimental evidence has suggested that caffeine withdrawal can lead to decreased performance in both humans and animals. Some scholars believe that the benefits of coffee actually come from the reversal of withdrawal, rather than the caffeine itself [7]. This means that once someone is accustomed to having coffee, withdrawing can cause negative effects that can be reversed by having coffee again.

So how does it work? First, let’s cover the basics of sleep. Adenosine is a compound produced by your brain’s neurons which determines your sleeping habits. Adenosine receptors monitor the level of adenosine in your body by activating when adenosine binds to them. When your body produces a large quantity of adenosine, it indicates that you are awake, but as levels of this compound drop, your body is likely preparing for sleep. When caffeine is introduced to this process, it binds itself to the adenosine receptors, fooling them into thinking that there is sufficient adenosine in your body [5]. The receptors hijacked by caffeine alert your body that it is not time for sleep yet. In other words, caffeine mimics the behavior of adenosine. 

Although consuming caffeine can result in symptoms of addiction, caffeine is scientifically not an addictive substance [6].  The NIDA (National Institute of Drug Abuse) defines addiction as the “uncontrolled use of a substance” even though the use of it may be harmful. Your brain has a reward system where the intake of a drug can cause an imbalance. However, the dopamine surges in your brain caused by drinking coffee don’t cause an imbalance in the rewards system [2]. While regular coffee drinkers might experience irritability due to withdrawal, they would likely not participate in self-destructive behavior to consume it [6]. Therefore, it is not considered addictive. Nevertheless, there are many detriments to the overconsumption of coffee, such as sleep loss, and in extreme cases, a buildup of adenosine, which can over-energize your heart and stop it.

Regardless of whether it is addictive or not, caffeine acts like a drug. It is easy to develop a dependence on coffee and other caffeinated beverages. Caffeine enhances the levels of dopamine, a CNSS that keeps a person feeling awake and energized [6]. The chemical changes in your brain that result from the continuous intake of coffee leads to a tolerance of caffeine, which develops in a way similar to people’s tolerance to drugs and alcohol. The more an individual becomes accustomed to the conveniences of caffeine, the more they will consume. However, when regular consumers of coffee suddenly stop drinking it, they will experience withdrawal symptoms and a craving for it, like other addictive substances [2].

Caffeine is a substance that seems to have many benefits like increasing energy and helping you stay awake. However, caffeine has addictive properties that impact your natural sleep patterns by affecting how adenosine receptors function. So think twice before you take your next shot of espresso to stay awake and finish that paper.

References

[1] Fookes, B. C. (Ed.). (2018, April 26). CNS stimulants. Retrieved November 29, 2019, from https://www.drugs.com/drug-class/cns-stimulants.html

[2] Hilliard, J. (2019, July 9). Caffeine addiction and abuse (T. Parisi, Ed.). Retrieved November 29, 2019, from https://www.addictioncenter.com/stimulants/caffeine/

[3] Methylxanthines. (n.d.). Retrieved November 29, 2019, from https://www.drugs.com/drug-class/methylxanthines.html

[4] National Center for Biotechnology Information. (n.d.). Caffeine. Retrieved November 29, 2019, from https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/caffeine

[5] National Sleep Foundation. (n.d.). How caffeine works. Retrieved November 29, 2019, from https://www.sleep.org/articles/what-does-caffeine-do-2/

[6] NIDA Blog Team. (2016, May 10). Is caffeine really addictive? Retrieved November 29, 2019, from https://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/post/caffeine-really-addictive

[7] O'Callaghan, F., Muurlink, O., & Reid, N. (2018, December). Effects of caffeine on sleep quality and daytime functioning. Retrieved from Dove Medical Press Limited website: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6292246/

[8] Schulman, A. (2018, February 6). Why is coffee called java? Retrieved November 29, 2019, from https://www.myrecipes.com/extracrispy/why-is-coffee-called-java