Pharmacology - Caffeine and Dopamine

[Samadhi]

I've heard caffeine doesn't effect the brains levels of dopamine

is this true?

[Beanfondler]

Directly no it doesn't.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caffeine

"Like alcohol, nicotine, and antidepressants, caffeine readily crosses the blood brain barrier. Once in the brain, the principal mode of action of caffeine is as an antagonist of adenosine receptors found in the brain.[39] The caffeine molecule is structurally similar to adenosine, and binds to adenosine receptors on the surface of cells without activating them (an "antagonist" mechanism of action). Therefore, caffeine acts as a competitive inhibitor. The reduction in adenosine activity results in increased activity of the neurotransmitter dopamine, largely accounting for the stimulatory effects of caffeine."