The role of A1 adenosine receptors for trait characteristics in cognitive performance impairments after alcohol intake.

Kurzfassung

In the brain, adenosine and its receptors are involved in sleep-wake-regulation. Sleep loss can have tremendous impact on cognitive performance in some individuals whereas others seem resilient. The sedating effects of alcohol intake on cognitive performance show surprising similarities to that observed after sleep loss. The negative effects of both conditions, sleep loss and alcohol intoxication, on cognitive performance can be antagonized by caffeine which unselectively blocks cerebral adenosine receptors. We show here that the individual susceptibility to the performance impairing effects of sleep loss and alcohol involve the adenosine system and share trait characteristics.