A scientific study conducted under the guidance of Professor Scott Kearney from York University confirmed the hypothesis about the influence of chronic insufficiency of sleep on the brain activity of individuals. Participants of the experiment, staying awake all night, showed a noticeable decrease in the activity of the frontal part of the brain, which is responsible for the processing of unpleasant stimuli. Concurrently, there was an increase in the activity of another part of the brain - the "cortex of the defensive reaction," responsible for responding to challenges posed by stimuli.
The period of rapid eye movement (REM), when dreams occur, characterizes brain activity, similar to what happens during wakefulness and is typically referred to as this phase being "awake." This time is also associated with psychological disorders related to disturbing thoughts, such as depression or post-traumatic disorders.
Expert in neuro-cognitive medicine, Mary Uber from Glasgow University notes that the results of the study can be useful for improving therapeutic programs for psychological discomfort. Interventions aimed at improving sleep quality during the period of rapid eye movements may become part of the treatment of psychological disorders associated with intrusive stimuli.
Researchers suggest that the reason for the observed changes may be that the frontal cortex of individuals with chronic sleep insufficiency cannot provide the mechanism to process unpleasant stimuli, activating the "cortex of the defensive reaction." Electroencephalographic research was conducted over the duration of the entire experiment to measure brain activity of participants.
The experiment also confirmed that the ability to hold back unpleasant stimuli depends on the amount of sleep obtained by an individual. If you get enough sleep, your brain will be able to process negative stimuli. However, during insomnia, sad stimuli and distressing thoughts will continue to pursue you over an extended period.
Studying the mechanisms underlying the processing of negative stimuli, researchers from York University revealed that chronic sleep insufficiency disrupts the frontal cortex's ability to process such stimuli. According to the results of previous studies, the processing of stimuli and past events is carried out through part of the brain, known as the "cortex of the defensive reaction," while another part, the "frontal cortex," is responsible for processing unpleasant stimuli.
These findings, made based on scientific work, can be used for the development of preventive measures to prevent the emergence of negative thoughts and the processing of distressing stimuli.
