ABSTRACT
Caffeine is well known for its stimulant properties and is found in foods, beverages, and as a constituent of drug formulations throughout the world. The mechanisms in the brain by which caffeine produces its effects, however, have not been understood until the last decade, with the advent of powerful research tools that have permitted investigators to study the biochemical 18and neuropharmacological properties of this drug. The intent of this article is to review the scientific literature which is related to the role of caffeine as a modulator of neurotransmission in general, and then to focus specifically on how caffeine affects cholinergic pathways. Finally, a link will be made between the changes in a caffeine-mediated cholinergic neurotransmission and behavioral effects of the drug.
