Blinking gives your brain a mini-nap: study
While blinking every few seconds serves to keep your eyes lubricated, scientists have spotted another benefit: blinking gives your brain a mini-power nap.
Notes the neuroscientific research out of the Osaka University, Japan: 20 young people, who watched a television program while their brain activity was monitored by an fMRI.
Scientists noted a distinct relaxation of the brain's visual, attention, and sensory areas, during blinks. The blinks induced a brief sleep-like state.
To contrast the data, the scientists conducted the same experiment, but with 165 millisecond sections of dead air inserted randomly. They noted a slow down in mental state during the gaps, but the reaction did not include the shut down of segments of the brain as with the blinking.
Blinking induces a brief sleep like state that rests the brain in a unique way.
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Source is Times Live.
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