Thinking hard is exhausting
A new study suggests thinking hard can actually wear you out.
Wondering why you’re so drained when all you did today was sit in front of the computer? A new study headed by Samuele Marcora, a University of Kent Professor of Exercise Physiology, suggests that thinking hard can actually leave your body exhausted.
Researchers tested subjects on one of two tasks: playing a mentally challenging computer test and watching documentaries. After 90 minutes, the subjects hopped on bikes and worked until exhaustion.
The documentary-watching group was able to peddle longer than those who did the computer test.
While the mentally exhausted group gave up peddling faster than the documentary group, there was no difference in their cardiovascular response (heart rate, respiration, and blood glucose levels). Reseachers concluded that this had to do with a perception of how difficult a physical task is.
The study raises questions about our ability to maintain resilience and the momentum of our working pace – maybe we’d benefit from a little neutral brain work during the day, like the documentary group was subjected to. For ideas about how to incorporate a mindful break into your day, you might, for example, want to try out this two-minute mindfulness practice from Elisha Goldstein.
Pinky and the Brain
Bedwetting or Nocturnal Enuresis
Nocturnal enuresis means uncontrolled urination at night after the age of 5 years.
This article highlights brain-based reasons for bedwetting, outside of pathological conditions such spina bifida, kidney disease or urethral obstructions. It’s for the parents who have already tried alarm clocks, reduced fluid intake before bed time, done reward charts, watched their child go to the toilet before bed or may have even considered medication.
There are 2 types of nocturnal enuresis: 1. The child who has never been dry for more than a few months at a time (primary nocturnal enuresis); and 2. The child who has been completely dry for more than 6 months and then starts to wet the bed again (secondary nocturnal enuresis).
In the context of brain-based bedwetting, the mechanisms for either would be similar, and would generally respond favourably to chiropractic care.
The 3 commonalities in a child with brain-based bedwetting are as follows:
- A child who is sensitive in nature or has experienced recent emotional events.
- A child with poor sleep rhythms – disturbed, restless, or very deep sleep.
- A child displaying retained primitive reflexes (see below).
Sleep disruptions in children are usually a normal symptom of central nervous system development but enuresis might be sign of immaturity of the sleep mechanism. Sleep is coordinated by the brain, its emotional centres, the circadian cycle and hypothalamus, the brainstem and autonomic nervous system. It’s a complex overlay of multiple controls, which is why there is never one straight forward answer. Read more
