Science Memes

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Thoughts (lemm.ee)

submitted 3 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 23 points 3 months ago (5 children)

Is it true that thinking harder actually consumes more sugar?

[–] [email protected] 21 points 3 months ago

Yes: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01005/full

[–] sazey 4 points 3 months ago

So apparently, a brain daydreaming or one fully immersed in a complex activity don't exhibit that much difference in energy usage, only consuming around 100 calories extra a day for mentally challenging activities.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago

Maybe, the brain can metabolize sugar or ketones. Kinda like a hybrid car that can run on gas or batteries.

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/molecular-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnmol.2021.732120/full

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago

Yes. Look at how many calories professional chess players are burning by just sitting and playing chess. You will be shocked.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Heck yeah it do. The brain is powered by glucose, and more brain activity will use much more of it. Jokingly, it's how I can tell a new engineer from one that is extremely experienced: A bright young engineer is usually skinny from problem solving all day. An older one is likely stuck in more meetings where brainpower is a liability and is probably on the heavier side.

Also, as an occasional eater of magic mushrooms, I keep packs of glucose in the house that are typically used for diabetic emergencies. Psilocybin pushes a brain into overdrive and causes my blood sugar to nosedive. (There are studies about possibly using psilocybin as a diabetic treatment to improve pancreatic function, btw..)