A recent study reveals that a bad mood or poor sleep can influence brain function for up to two weeks. Researchers found that the brain doesn’t just react to day-to-day events in isolation but rather evolves based on our overall lifestyle over time.
This means that experiences, such as a workout or a sleepless night from the previous week, can still affect attention, cognition, and memory well into the following week. The research, part of a long-term study, followed one individual’s brain and behavior over five months using scans and data from wearable devices and smartphones.
The findings showed that while focus is impacted by poor sleep for less than a week, areas related to attention and memory can be affected for up to 15 days. Exercise was found to have a lasting, positive impact on brain function, improving memory and cognition for up to two weeks. Subtle changes in mood and heart rate were also found to leave lasting effects on the brain for up to 15 days.
The study, published in the journal PLOS Biology, was conducted by researchers from Aalto University and the University of Oulu in Finland. The team explained that our mental states are continuously shaped by factors like sleep quality, physical activity, and social interactions, and these factors influence brain function over different time frames, ranging from milliseconds to weeks.
Their analysis suggests that brain connectivity is influenced by behavioral, physiological, and lifestyle factors, both in the short term (less than seven days) and over longer periods (up to two weeks). The study emphasizes the importance of considering how environmental and lifestyle changes, such as illness or restless sleep, affect brain function over time.
Lead researcher Ana Triana, who was also the subject of the study, highlighted the unique nature of the research. Unlike most brain studies, this one involved detailed monitoring over days and weeks. Triana noted that understanding how our daily lives impact brain connectivity could lead to significant advances in personalized healthcare, with the potential for earlier interventions and improved health outcomes.
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