DELIVERING THE NEWS FOR 100 YEARS
Monday, March 28, 20 16
E s t abl ishe d 19 16
w w w.mus t angne w s .net
Spring
your brain into action Regine Smith
Spring — a season that can represent sunshine, flowers and new beginnings for some, while for others, it signifies a time of stress, allergies and senioritis. Whatever your spring quarter may hold, let it be a season of learning what activities affect your brain, for better or for worse. Get enough sleep The speed at which you process thoughts slows down significantly after one night of insufficient sleep according to a study by University of Pennsylvania
neurocognitive doctors Jeffrey S. Durmer and David F. Dinges. This is because poor sleep inhibits the neural pathways through which information travels. Lack of sleep also alters levels of the hormone ghrelin, which increases hunger, and can cause people to gain weight. The prefrontal cortex is affected, causing one to be continually distracted and have delayed reaction time. Chronic sleep deprivation can kill brain cells or clog the cells with proteins, which leads to permanent brain damage relat-
@regine321
ed to processing information and attention. Lack of sleep can also turn on genes in the brain that activate depression. Manage your stress Science, health and technology journalist Madhumita Murgia has found that undergoing longterm stress releases a chemical called cortisol in the brain. In excess, cortisol can be severely damaging to the brain. Cortisol deteriorates the creation of new brain cells in the hippocampus, the area of the brain associated
with learning, memories and stress-control. These abilities are impaired by cortisol, as well as the shrinking of the prefrontal cortex, which affects decision making, concentration, judgment and social interaction. Cortisol also increases the amount of neural connections in the amygdala, the area of the brain that processes fear; long-term stress diminishes one’s ability to manage stress in general. Continued on page 2
Add Mustang News on Snapchat by scanning the snapcode above for behind-the-scenes coverage and special deals. News... 1-7 | Arts... 8-13 | Sports... 14| Classifieds... 15