Caffeine Optimization Versus Standard Caffeine Dosage (2B-2)

This clinical trial will be examining whether the 2B-Alert Caffeine Optimization algorithm provides greater performance optimization, side effect minimization, and quality of recovery sleep during sleep deprivation compared to the standard published recommendations for caffeine use. The objective of this clinical trial will be to conduct a head-to-head comparison between the 2B-Alert app versus a commonly recommended caffeine dosing regimen for sustaining optimal performance during sleep deprivation and minimizing side effects and subsequent sleep disruption. The specific aims are to: Determine the effectiveness of 2B-Alert versus standard caffeine dosing on psychomotor vigilance, subjective sleepiness, and cognition on single and multiple nights of sleep deprivation; Determine the effectiveness of 2B-Alert versus standard caffeine dosing at mitigating physiological and emotional side effects; Determine the effectiveness of 2B-Alert versus standard caffeine dosing at minimizing disruptions in recovery sleep.

This clinical trial will consist of three phases. Phase 1 includes the enrollment visit where participants will come into the lab, complete baseline personality and mood testing, and be given the actigraph watch and phone with the 2B-Alert app. Then the participant will undergo 13-days of at-home psychomotor vigilance testing and sleep data collection.

Phase 2 begins with the participant arrives at the lab for the 4-day in-lab portion of the study. During this phase the participant will complete a night of baseline sleep using polysomnography to collect sleep data. At the end of baseline sleep, the participant will begin the 62-hour sleep deprivation portion. During the deprivation portion, data will be collected periodically on the participants psychomotor vigilance. After 37-49 hours of continuous sleep deprivation participants will be administered either caffeine gum or placebo gum.

There are four different experimental conditions and one control condition that determines the ratio of caffeine gum to placebo gum that is administered to participants:

• Standard Caffeine Dose Both Nights (200mg/2 hr. up to 800mg/24 hr.)
• Optimized Caffeine Dose Both Nights (0-300mg/2 hr. up to 800mg/24 hr.)
• Placebo Dose 1st Night/Standard Caffeine Dose 2nd Night (0mg) / (200mg/2 hr. up to 800mg/24 hr.)
• Placebo Dose 1st Night/Optimized Caffeine Dose 2nd Night (0mg) / (0-300mg/2 hr. up to 800mg/24 hr.)
• Placebo Dose Both Nights (0mg) Participants will be randomly assigned to 1 of the 5 conditions, so 20% of the study population will be in each condition.

After the 62-hour period of total sleep deprivation, participants will complete Phase 3, a night of recovery sleep; During this phase, participants' sleep data will be collected using polysomnography. After the night of recovery sleep participants will remain in the lab for further psychomotor vigilance testing. Once this is complete individuals will be released from the lab and their participation will be complete.

Inclusion criteria

• Age 18-39 years of age
• Must demonstrate adequate comprehension of the protocol by achieving a score of at least 80% correct on a short multiple-choice quiz

Exclusion criteria

• Self-reported habitual nightly sleep amounts outside the target range of approximately 6-9 hours (i.e., less than 6 hours per night or more than 9 hours per night, on average)
• Self-reported nighttime bedtimes earlier than approximately 2100 hours on average during weeknights (Sunday through Thursday)
• Self-reported morning wake-up times later than approximately 0900 on average during weekdays (Monday through Friday)
• Self-reported habitual napping (> 3 times per week)
• Self-reported symptoms suggestive of a sleep disorder (to include but not limited to sleep disordered breathing/sleep apnea, narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia, restless leg syndrome, parasomnias, rapid eye movement (REM) behavior disorder, etc.)
• History of a sleep disorder (to include all of the above)
• Any use of prescription or over-the-counter sleep aids during the 6-month period prior to screening indicative of a potential sleep disorder as determined by the examining study physician
• History of neurologic disorder (e.g., seizure disorder, amnesia for any reason, hydrocephalus, multiple sclerosis)
• Self-reported caffeine use > 400 mg per day on average
• Score of 14 or above on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
• Score of 41 or above on the Spielberger Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T)
• Score below 31 or above 69 on the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire
• Self-reported regular nicotine use (> 1 cigarette or equivalent per week) within the last 1 year) or positive nicotine/cotinine result during screening visit
• Self-reported heavy alcohol use (≥14 drinks per week or as determined by the examining study physician) or positive saliva alcohol result during screening visit
• History of cardiovascular disease (to include but not limited to arrhythmias, valvular heart disease, congestive heart failure, history of sudden cardiac death or myocardial infarction)
• Underlying acute or chronic pulmonary disease requiring daily inhaler use
• Kidney disease or kidney abnormalities
• Liver disease or liver abnormalities
• Self-reported history of psychiatric disorder requiring hospitalization or use of psychiatric medication for any length of time
• Self-reported use of products or drugs that cannot be safely discontinued during in-laboratory phases (determined on a case-by-case basis by the examining study physician)
• Self-reported current use of other illicit drugs (to include but not limited to benzodiazepines, amphetamines, cocaine, marijuana) or positive urine drug screen
• (Females only) positive urine pregnancy result
• (Females only) self-reported or suspected current breast-feeding or collecting breast milk
• Resting blood pressure above 140/90 or resting pulse > 110 beats per minute (if a physician performs a repeat measurement, ~20 minutes after original measure, and it is within range, volunteer will not be excluded)
• BMI ≥ 30 (Obese Class I or greater)
• Clinically significant values (as determined by the reviewing study physician) for any hematology or chemistry parameter
• Inability to read and sign consent
• (Military only) failure to obtain required approved official leave to participate
• Failure to cooperate with requirements of the study, e.g. failure to complete 80% of Smart-Psychomotor Vigilance Tests (PVTs) during Phase 1 (Days 2-13)