If caffeine binds to the adenosine receptors in the brain does that mean coffee doesn’t wake you up but keeps you from getting more tired?

Question

Would this be classified as a biology question? XD

In: Biology

Answer 1

Think of it as a dam on a river forming a lake. The water is like Adenosine. Rain is like stress and activity from the day. Normally, the rain would increase the downriver flow raising the water level (making you sleepy). But as more of the dam flood gate doors closed (adding more caffeine), this prevents this from happening as caffeine does in the brain. It slows down the rate in which you can notice the rising water by backing up the flow from the area you notice the change in the flow. The Adenosine doesn’t go away, it just builds up.

This also explains why you can crash after caffeine usage, and why people keep using it to delay the crash (flood).