By Stephen Beech via SWNS
Visiting the gym today could trigger a bright idea next week, suggests new research.
The everyday effects of sleep, exercise, heart rate and mood – both good and bad – can linger in our brains for over two weeks, according to the pioneering study.
Finnish researchers tracked one person’s brain and physical activity for five months using scans and data from wearable devices and smartphones.
Research leader Ana Triana, of Aalto University, said: “We wanted to go beyond isolated events.
“Our behavior and mental states are constantly shaped by our environment and experiences.
“Yet, we know little about the response of brain functional connectivity to environmental, physiological, and behavioral changes on different timescales, from days to months.”
The study, published in the journal PLOS Biology, showed that our brains do not respond to daily life in immediate, isolated bursts.
Instead, brain activity evolves in response to sleep patterns, physical activity, mood, and breathing rate over many days.
The research team says that suggests that even a workout or a restless night from last week could still affect the brain – and therefore attention, cognition and memory – well into next week.
The research also revealed a strong link between heart rate variability – a measure of the heart’s adaptability – and brain connectivity, particularly during rest.
The researchers say that suggests that impacts on our body’s relaxation response, such as stress management techniques, could shape our brain’s wiring – even when we are not actively concentrating on a task.
Physical activity was also found to have a positive influence on the way brain regions interact, potentially impacting memory and cognitive flexibility.
Even subtle shifts in mood and heart rate left lasting imprints for up to 15 days, according to the findings.
The research is unusual in that few brain studies involve detailed monitoring over days and weeks.
Doctoral researcher Triana said: “The use of wearable technology was crucial.
“Brain scans are useful tools, but a snapshot of someone lying still for half an hour can only show so much.
“Our brains do not work in isolation.”
Triana was herself the subject of the research, monitored as she went about her daily life.
Her unique role as both lead author and study participant allowed first-hand insights into how best to maintain research integrity over several months of personalized data collection.
She said: “At the beginning, it was exciting and a bit stressful.
“Then, routine settles in and you forget.”
Data from the devices and twice-weekly brain scans were complemented by data from mood surveys.
The team identified two distinct response patterns: a short-term wave lasting under seven days and a long-term wave of up to 15 days.
They say the shorter wave reflects rapid adaptations, such as how the focus is impacted by poor sleep, but it recovers quickly.
The long wave suggests more gradual, lasting effects, particularly in areas linked to attention and memory.
The team hopes their innovative approach will inspire future studies that combine brain data with everyday life to help personalize mental health treatment.
Study co-author neuroscientist Dr Nick Hayward said: “We must bring data from daily life into the lab to see the full picture of how our habits shape the brain, but surveys can be tiring and inaccurate.
“Combining concurrent physiology with repeated brain scans in one person is crucial.
“Our approach gives context to neuroscience and delivers very fine detail to our understanding of the brain.”
The researchers say that tracking brain changes in real-time could help detect neurological disorders early, especially mental health conditions where subtle signs might be missed.
Triana added: “Linking brain activity with physiological and environmental data could revolutionize personalized healthcare, opening doors for earlier interventions and better outcomes.”
