Siesta time? Here’s why you tend to be less alert during the afternoon - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Siesta time? Here’s why you tend to be less alert during the afternoon

Indo Asian News Service | ByIndo Asian News Service, Sydney
Aug 23, 2017 01:01 PM IST

During the afternoon your brain expects a reward, while activation is greater in the morning and evening because rewards are not expected at these times, according to a study.

Do you find yourself grumpy and less alert in the afternoon hours as opposed to the morning hours? It is because your brain expects a reward, while activation is greater in the morning and evening because rewards are not expected at these times, according to a study.

The findings showed that activation of a reward-processing brain region peaks in the morning and evening and dips at 2 p.m.(Shutterstock)
The findings showed that activation of a reward-processing brain region peaks in the morning and evening and dips at 2 p.m.(Shutterstock)

The findings showed that activation of a reward-processing brain region peaks in the morning and evening and dips at 2 p.m. Understanding how activity in the brain’s reward system changes throughout the day could have implications for depression, substance abuse and sleep disturbances, said Greg Murray from the Swinburne University in Australia.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

For the study, published in The Journal of Neuroscience, the team compared activation of the brain’s reward system in young men during a gambling task at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. They found that activation in the left putamen was lowest in early afternoon. This finding may parallel the drop in alertness people tend to feel in mid-afternoon, the researchers said. “While the left putamen had greatest activation at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., it had significantly lowered activation at 2 p.m.,” Jamie Byrne from the varsity was quoted as saying to Daily Mail.

“The left putamen is particularly responsive to unexpected rewards, so our data suggest that the brain’s reward centres might be primed to expect rewards in the early afternoon and be surprised when they appear at the start and end of the day,” Byrne added. The results contrast with a previous research showing that people report being in the best mood - a subjective measure of reward activation - at this time, the researchers said.

Follow @htlifeandstyle for more

Oscars 2024: Nominees to Red Carpet Glam! Get Exclusive Coverage on HT. Click Here

Catch your daily dose of Fashion, Health, Festivals, Travel, Relationship, Recipe and all the other Latest Lifestyle News on Hindustan Times Website and APPs
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On