Who does not know this: After a short night of hot, hungry and wants nothing more to bite than savory in the Burger. So far, it was assumed that the lack of sleep changes the hormonal balance and the Hunger, the result. Researchers at the University of Cologne came in a study now to a different result.
Cravings and lack of sleep are related
As the scientists in the journal “Journal of Neuroscience” reports, suggests the lack of sleep and the reward system in the brain – which in turn leads to the question Essgelüsten. That chronic lack of sleep may increase the risk of obesity, and even Diabetes, has already been evidenced by various studies, however, so far, by the said hormone hypothesis explains. The Cologne-based researchers scanned during their comparative study of the brains of well-rested and bleary-eyed volunteers and found a very different reason.
The participants consisted of 32 lean, healthy men, which were given on two evenings, between which for several days were, depending on the food served. Half of the subjects were then sent home to bed, and the other half in a laboratory artificially kept awake. (Read also: So many cups of coffee are healthy)
Study measures brain activity
The next Morning the brain were examined, activities of men in the nuclear spin tomograph. Furthermore, it was taken for hormone analysis blood and a task: The subjects should describe if they tended to be more likely, money for Snacks, or No-Food products. Also, you should classify your feeling of Hunger on a scale.
The bleary-eyed participants were more willing to invest money in food. Surprising as this result, the reasons for this were: While blood analyses were unremarkable, showed the brain scans, increased activity of the reward system. The prospect of something Tasty to eat is the potential reward, and exerts a stimulus on the limbic System – the center of our feelings. In particular, the so-called Amygdala plays a role here. (Also interesting: How to lose weight and meal times)
Sleep deprivation and brain activity: Further testing needed
Why sleep deprivation in this brain region is more activated, could not clarify the study concludes. “Apparently, it is in cross-section so that lack of sleep increases the risk for a whole range of health problems, including obesity,” quotes “ntv”, the neuroscientist Jan Peters. “We now understand a piece closer to what mechanism triggers on the neural level this behavior, which is perhaps a rather subordinate role to play.” More accurate correlations and possible recommendations for action will need to be developed in further experiments.
This article was written by GQ.de
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