Posted Sep 23, 2022, 6:03 AM
We wondered why Rodin’s thinker looked so exhausted. We now have some answers (Current Biology, August 2022): because sitting for hours thinking “fouls” the brain. According to the authors, overwork causes the accumulation of potentially toxic by-products, such as glutamate, in the prefrontal cortex. It is therefore a functional alteration, which modifies our control over our decisions and pushes us to favor actions that are less costly for the brain. Mental fatigue would therefore not be a mere figment of the mind but a real warning signal aimed at preserving the integrity of our brain functioning, assures Mathias Pessiglione, co-author and researcher at the ICM in Paris. The advice of the researchers: sleep well, which “cleans” neurons and synapses. And avoid making important decisions following a few hours of intense mental work.
What benchmarks in a constantly changing world?
Political uncertainties, scientific innovations, war in Ukraine, energy and ecological transition… How to understand these changes? How to position yourself? Every day, the 200 journalists from the “Echos” editorial staff help you decipher economic, political and international news through surveys, analyses, press reviews, chronicles and editorials. Our subscribers know that they can rely on these resources to better navigate our complex environment and make the best strategic decisions.
