If you feel like taking a power nap after a sleepless night, consider a short exercise workout instead.
New research suggests that it can effectively balance the decline in cognitive function caused by sleepless nights.
The study, led by researchers at the University of Portsmouth in the UK, revealed some interesting new insights into how exercise benefits our bodies, including when oxygen is most important. .
Two experiments were performed, each with 12 healthy adult participants. One tested cognitive performance after her 3 nights of partial sleep deprivation (PSD) and the other tested her cognitive performance during her 1 night of total sleep deprivation (TSD). hypoxia (less oxygen in the body), compared to getting a normal amount of sleep.
Several interesting findings emerged, chief among them being that 20 minutes of exercise on a stationary bike improved brain function in all conditions, including PSD, TSD, and hypoxia. This is useful for a wide range of people, from new parents to mountaineers.
“Existing research shows that exercise can improve or maintain cognitive performance even when oxygen levels are reduced.” To tell Joe Costello, an exercise physiologist at the University of Portsmouth, says:
“But this is the first study to suggest that cognitive performance also improves after complete and partial sleep deprivation, and when combined with hypoxia.”
Although the link between exercise and brain activation is already well established, this study provides researchers with some useful additional evidence.
For example, one of the reasons why exercise and brain power are linked is thought to be because exercise provides extra oxygen to the brain, but here we found cognitive improvements even in low-oxygen environments. Ta.
This suggests that other factors may be involved, such as hormones that regulate the brain, and perhaps increased arousal and motivation.
Although more research is needed to find out more, we now have some useful new information about sleep, exercise, and sleep. Thinking powerbecause multiple stressors were tested at once.
“Sleep deprivation is often experienced in combination with other stressors.” To tell says Thomas Williams, a physiologist at the University of Portsmouth.
“For example, people who travel to high altitudes are also more likely to experience disrupted sleep patterns.”
According to research Approximately 43% of us don’t get the recommended 7 to 9 hours of sleep. This impacts most aspects of our physical and mental health, impacting risks for everything from depression to heart disease.
What’s encouraging is how quickly you can reset yourself and reverse these negative effects. That said, it’s clearly better to get enough sleep each night in the first place than trying to catch up.
“The results of this study significantly strengthen what we know about the relationship between exercise and these stressors and help reinforce the message that exercise is medicine for the body and brain.” To tell Costello.
This research physiology and behavior.
