The more you think, the more calories you burn?

• May 1, 2024

Complex thinking and intense brain activity require more energy than usual than regular mental processes, so, as well as the exercise vigorous body tiring, intellectual effort must generate fatigue or "wear" the brain, as shown by an article published in the magazine Scientific American .

The brain is the only organ that requires so much Energy in a basic way, always keeping these concentrations adequate to supply the billions of neurons during brain activity, even when they are not sending signals. It is a costly and continuous maintenance, but necessary, according to medcience.com

On average, the brain weighs about 1.4 kilos, 2% of body weight; however, due to the great brain activity, it may require up to 20% of the total energy and calories, even when the body is at rest.

For example, he cites the scientific journal, a study of Claude Massier, from the University of Ottawa, Canada, determines that the expense of calories average of a normal person would be 1300 kcal in 24 hours, about 54.16 kcal per hour and 15.04 calories per second.

If we assume an average rate metabolic at rest of 1300 calories, brain activity consumes 260 of those calories just to maintain a good functioning; that is, 10.8 calories per hour or 0.18 calories per minute.

In addition, according to the journal, when complex brain activity is carried out, the neurons inflame the blood vessels and require a greater energy consumption, so it could require a higher requirement of glucose , taking it from the employee for other bodily functions.

But nevertheless, Robert Kurzban of the University of Pennsylvania, he points out in his study that in reality the brain does not require a higher consumption of glucose or calories for proper neuronal functioning in the face of complicated intellectual activities.

Actually, explains the specialist, the mental fatigue What we feel after carrying out greater concentration and intellectual activities, is mainly due to the idea that we have made a great effort in front of certain brain activity, and not that in fact a huge effort has been made calorie burning .

In this sense, we are still studying the way in which the brain has the energy and glucose total. While it is an organ that at rest requires a good amount of Energy for brain activities, it does not necessarily mean that there must be a greater consumption of it.

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Video Medicine: Does Thinking Hard Burn More Calories? (May 2024).