The effects of caffeine on risky decision making

Caffeine is one of the most ubiquitous drugs in the world, and is often consumed for its cognitive enhancing properties. The current research investigated the influence of caffeine on two commonly used measures of risky decision making (the Iowa Gambling Task and the Balloon Analogue Risk Task). Findings indicated that caffeine improved performance on the IGT but not on the BART. However, inclusion of individual differences on decision making style and impulsivity generated regression models that explained a significant proportion of variance in performance on the IGT and BART. Multiple significant correlations existed among a variety of individual difference trait measures of decision-making style, impulsive tendencies and risk-taking behaviour. Results and implications are discussed in terms of two prominent decision-making theories as well as prior research, and further research directions are suggested that may help elucidate the apparently contradictory effects of caffeine on two distinct measures of risky decision making. Author keywords: