After a long day at work, you may feel exhausted and want to grab a quick bite. You’ve been sitting all day. Why do you feel so tired?
It’s becoming more frustrating to try and complete all of your important tasks as the clock ticks towards home-time. Worst of all is bumping into someone on the way out who “just needs a quick minute”.
Although it might seem obvious that people are more likely at the end to make impulsive choices, they often persevere.
A Recent studyA study that examined the brains of people at various points during their workday found that high-demand tasks, which require constant concentration and intense concentration, can lead to toxic levels of glutamate.
Glutamate is normally used to send signals between nerve cells. In large quantities, glutamate affects performance in a brain area involved in planning, decision making, called the lateral frontal cortex (lPFC).
Time and again, science has proven that mental fatigue can have real consequences. Many studies show that judge fatigue can affect court decisions.
For instance, after a long time in court More judges will deny parole(which is the safer option). Studies have shown that Doctors are more likely than others to prescribeUnnecessary antibiotics at the conclusion of a tiring clinical session
Paris Brain Institute (ICM), has just published a study that examined whether cognitive functions, such as multitasking, focus, and problem solving, can lead to fatigue of lPFC. These factors influence the decisions we make when we cross items off our list.
The price of opportunity
The brain controls the body’s command center, controlling circulation, breathing, motor function and the nervous system. These activities are coordinated at the brain. Energy use can be expensive.
Nerve cells use nutrients to produce energy (metabolism). This process produces byproduct molecules called Metabolites. Glutamateis a type metabolite. This toxic chemical is eliminated by the brain. In your sleep.
The Paris study’s authors wanted to find out if cognitive tasks that are prolonged exhaust the brain’s nutrients. The authors also examined whether this high-focus task causes a higher concentration of toxic substances to the lPFC than in other areas of the brain.
In this case, the authors compared lPFC and the primary visual cortex, which receives visual information and processes it.
Their hypothesis was tested by dividing their 40 participants into 2 groups. Each group sat for six hours in front of computers in an office. One group was required to complete difficult tasks that tested their attention and working memory.
One example: Participants were given letters to sort into vowels or consonants. The second group performed similar tasks, but was much easier. Both groups achieved an average of 80 percent correct responses.
To scan brains of participants and measure levels metabolites, the scientists used magnetic resonance spectrum (MRS). The authors took readings at different times throughout the day.
The fatigue markers such as an increased glutamate concentration were only found in the high-demand group. The lateral prefrontal cortex was the only area where toxic chemicals were found. [lPFC]) and not the primary visual cortex.
The decision tests were conducted after the cognitive tasks of high- and low demand. The tests asked about the willingness to exert physical effort (whether to bike at different speeds), cognitive effort (whether to complete harder or more difficult versions of cognitive control tasks), as well as patience (how long they would wait to get a greater reward).
The rewards ranged from €0.10 to €50 (about US 10¢ to $50). The reward was not immediately available after the experiment, but it could be bank transfer or cash within one year.
Rethink the work day
The high-demand groups, which were more likely to have higher levels of metabolites in their lPFC, preferred simpler choices. Participants’ pupils showed less dilation (dilated pupils indicates arousal) while taking less time to make their decisions. This suggests that they felt this part of experiment was less demanding.
So Paris StudyIt also raises the question of whether the work day is organized in the most efficient way.
The study results suggest that we should separate high-demand cognitive control tasks, which require working memory and constant attention. It also needs to take into consideration the fact that performance can be affected at the end. This study may have different implications for some professions.
Air traffic controllers are only allowed to guide an aircraft for two hours per shift. Then, they have to take a break for half an hour. Bus drivers, pilots, and clinicians all would benefit from taking regular, mandatory rests.
Many different brain areas are active in various tasks. Paris study findings do not necessarily explain all of our decisions.
Consider the interrelationships across the entire body. 2006 studyAccording to the USA, new information can be processed best in a state where there is hunger. However, it is harder to store new information if you are hungry. Satiety can be described as the availability of fuels to create neuron circuits. store long-term memory.
In a state where there is no hunger, a judge may make a decision about a third person, like a defendant. However, fine motor tasks, such as surgery or other complex decisions, might be more effective. Because we don’t need to hunt for food after eating, our self-interest in survival may be diminished.
This allows us to be more objective in our assessment of the environment. The body must rest to digest food. Complex fine motor skills can’t be at their best during satiety.
Be aware that you will tend to choose low-effort, short-term actions next time you face a difficult decision.
It is best to go to bed with it.
Zoltán MolnárProfessor of Developmental Neuroscience. University of Oxford Tamas HorvathProfessor of Neurobiology & Ob/Gyn Yale University
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