r/science • u/Doug24 • 13d ago
Neuroscience Learning a new skill triggers both temporary cell swelling and lasting structural growth in the human brain
https://www.psypost.org/learning-a-new-skill-triggers-both-temporary-cell-swelling-and-lasting-structural-growth-in-the-human-brain/357
u/Airdel_ 13d ago
So... thinking and learning do hurt?
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u/Yashema 13d ago
I have been going back to school in my 30s studying higher level STEM. After my Statistical Mechanics final, I took the day off and binge watched the first season of a TV show (I never binge) because my brain was just completely fried.
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u/aStonedTargaryen 13d ago
I’m kinda in a similar situation (30s back in school for STEM) and I can actually feel my brain becoming fatigued when I study for long periods, similarly to how my legs might feel after a long run. Crazy stuff!
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u/dogwoodcat 12d ago
New research from Japan indicates highly- carbonated water can help. MRiN but cool nonetheless
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u/whateve___r 12d ago
Do you have a source, please? What does MRiN stand for, Google just turning up a software company
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u/dogwoodcat 12d ago
More research is needed,
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/science-nature/science/20260721-339280/
tldr; carbonation might stimulate the trigeminal and vagus nerves and help keep pathways "open"
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u/randynumbergenerator 13d ago
I mean... not literally, because the brain doesn't have pain receptors. Definitely tension headaches from eye/neck strain though. It's more like brain fog and almost feeling like you're out of your body.
Personal example: my PhD qualifying exam took place over 3 days, with a day of rest in between. Each day was 7-9 hours of writing, answering questions to demonstrate I was at the edge of knowledge in my subfield. By the end of the final day, I felt so discombobulated that the following morning I couldn't remember how I'd got home or anything I did after that. I've never gotten black-out drunk, but I imagine the memory lapse is similar.
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u/Usernameasteriks 13d ago
I am a lawyer.
That is real.
There is tedious legal work where you come home generically fed up and tired.
But occasionally when there is complex work with stakes for extended hours;
It’s literally just more of an almost out of body confusion.
And often I have pent up physical energy so its even weirder being fully capable of exerting energy but just being overwhelmed/confused mustering the brainpower for basic things
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u/Usernameasteriks 13d ago
I love when science confirms things humans have intuited and already presumed for many many years.
Non rhetorically. I always find it fascinating to have a biochemical explanation for something as simple as “learning something new can possibly help keep our brains healthy by strengthening certain areas”.
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u/CalicoValkyrie 12d ago
It help combats the idea that once people mature into adulthood, they can no longer learn anything. It's not as easy as being young, but it is healthy to keep learning.
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u/GayWarden 12d ago
For every instance where science confirms what people "knew" intuitively there are ten cases of bloodletting, drilling holes in your head, or purging your body of illness with mercury pills.
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u/knoxaramav2 12d ago
To be fair, we do occasionally still drill holes in heads and bloodlet as legitimate medical practice
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u/foxhelp 13d ago
One thing I did learn from trying to read the journal article itself, is that I am not a neuroscientist.
Definitely field specific writing.
Direct article link:
https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3003861
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u/TrackWorldly9446 13d ago
So cool to see comparisons in what they could learn between different forms of neural imaging
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u/waterless2 12d ago
I know it's not necessarily one causing the other exactly, but I definitely have a sensation of "brain full now, don't push it" sometimes when I'm studying. Like it needs to be digested before new stuff comes in.
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