TheWorldJournal.com

Harmful Thinking
By Artashes Toumanov, TheWorldJournal.com

American scientists have come to the conclusion that a lot of thinking could be harmful. Experiments on rats have shown that long cogitative processes cause a sharp decrease of glucose coming into the brain; and, results in drowsiness and weariness.

The research was conducted by Illinois University scientists whose intentions were to check how a cognitive process is reflected on the brains activity. For this purpose they have selected a few hundred rats of different ages, and have created for them problems with different levels of complexity.

Scientists where measuring a level of glucose in brain cells during the exercises. These tests showed that intellectual concentration results in glucose outflow from the brain, which is the most important "nutrition" for a brain and intellectual activity. Thus, because of glucose shortage, it becomes more difficult to think and memorize things.

More serious consequences resulted in older rats. For example, while moving in the labyrinth, the amount of glucose in cells responsible for spatial orientation decreased 30% in younger rats. In the same case the amount of glucose decreased 48% in older rats. The necessary level of glucose was restored in only 30 minutes after the task was completed.

Scientists are sure that their results may be similar in humans. One of the scientists has declared that they still have to investigate the connection between high intellectual activity in younger people and memory problems in older people. Besides, they are sure that the data would suggest that some changes should be made in school's time schedules and meal menus.

© August 14, 2001

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