An individual experiences fragmented sleep after consuming caffeine late in the day. Which mechanism explains why disrupted sleep architecture results in impaired memory consolidation?

💡 Explanation

Caffeine antagonizes adenosine receptors, because adenosine promotes sleep and is crucial for slow-wave sleep. This reduction impairs the neural replay processes during deep sleep necessary for memory consolidation; therefore, antagonism impacts memory, rather than directly influencing serotonin, GABA, or cortisol.

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