Decisions should be made after consulting with a pillow and a full stomach. This is that mothers and grandmothers always told us, and, like almost everything in life, they are right. Make decisions hungry This is a very bad idea. This applies to the purchase list. If we go to a supermarket with an empty stomach, we may buy in a more impulsive way. But not only for this. Other solutions, such as financial or interpersonalThey can also be associated with time that we have not eaten.
In 2019, a team of scientists from Dundee University He wanted to check whether hunger could also affect solutions that have nothing to do with food. To do this, they conducted a study in which they participated 50 people Those who were asked to make a series of decisions both hungry and without it. Obviously, the solutions were much more impulsive When they were hungry. There were solutions related to food, as well as other problems.
The authors of this study at one time pointed out their concern about how this could affect people’s lives. For example, if someone makes decisions hungry, because he barely has money to eat, he can choose the unsuitable options that further exacerbate their situation. Or, in another case, it is very different if we are looking for our The best mortgage option In full position, we can stay with a proposal that suits us the least. There are many reasons why we should not make decisions hungry. But let’s see how science explains.
The background of the experiment is Malvavisco
In a statement by the University of Dudi, after the publication of the study, its authors noted that in fact their study was a continuation of another long time: Malvavisco experiment.
Psychologist from Stanford University called Walter Michelle. Hundreds of children aged 4 to 5 years took part in the experiment. Everyone entered the room in whose table was Malvavisco. The researcher told them that the moment would leave. If they returned, they did not eat sweetness, they will give them another. Will reward their patience Double awardWhen the scientist left the room for 15 minutes, there were children who immediately ate Malvavisco. Others kept a little, but in the end fell into temptation. But there were several, who managed to withstand until he returned with his second prize.
The study there did not end there, as the children followed the few years. The first part was published in 1972. In this of them qualification At school. Thus, it was clear that the children who survived the second Malvavisco The best results Reading, mathematics and writing. In addition, when they arrived in adolescence, they expressed minor rates from abuse of psychoactive substances and a lower probability of development obesityThe field as a whole, their parents said that they better responded to stress and established the best social relations.
But there was no research there. They have been following 40 years, and further success continued to be checked in children who have reached their Double award.
Many factors may affect this. One of them is trust, as was well demonstrated in a later study. It conducted a previous experiment in which an adult promised the children who would give them Loading boxBut then he did not. The children who went through this experience are more likely to eat the first Malvavisco. Nevertheless, this was enough for a few minutes of trust so that they had more patience in the second experiment.
What does this have to do with the decision -making hungry?
In the study of Malvisko it was evident that in fact patience in relation to food also leads to better decision -making in Other aspects of lifeThe field, therefore, scientists Dundee University They thought that perhaps this is not good Make anyThe field is neither kind of related to food or some kind of another problem.
To check this, as we have already seen, they had 50 people who were given two very clear instructions. At the first stage of the experiment, they must pass 10 hours, there is nothing. On the second, they will simply accept very plentiful food 2 hours before creating a questionnaire.
In this questionnaire, they were offered a reward associated with food, money or music, immediately or twice, if they waited several days. It was clear that when they answered hungry, they were ready to wait Maximum 3 daysIf not, they stayed with a small reward. On the other hand, when they made decisions without hunger, they could wait until 35 days to get a reward twice.
Why all this?
In this study of 2019, it was shown that, as we suspected and told us our grandmothers, it is not good to make decisions hungry. However, later, in 2023, other scientists indicated a possible reason for A study conducted with mice.
In this analyzed it brain activity and its levels Intestinal hormones In different circumstances. They always put a reward for food that they are not used to. Sometimes they exposed her hungry, but in other cases without her. It was evident that in both cases they were Kudli for food, but the result was very different. Mice that were not hungry. Ventral hippocampus, Prevention of them to be. For those who were hungry, on the other hand, this area of the brain was not activated and ultimately ate.
In both cases, it was clear that there was a direct relationship with Grelin levelsThe hormone that is produced in the intestines in response to the post, creating a feeling of hunger. When these levels were high, the activity in the ventral hippocampus was inhibited.
It is known that this area of the brain is associated with Memory management and emotionsBut with the adoption of a decision of any kind. Therefore, it is likely that hunger is inactive our brain to make the right decisions.
By logic, as a study in mice, additional research is required. But, taking into account the results of the 2019 study, it is clear that if you are going to make a transcendental decision, it is important that you first feed yourself well. In the end, you will ultimately thank this.
Source: Hiper Textual
