You're Not Imagining It: Thinking Can Actually Be Painful, Study Finds

[Warpy]

A new review of past research backs up a feeling many of us will have had when trying to figure out a math problem, weigh up the pros and cons of a decision, or work out what's happened in a complicated time travel movie.

It really does hurt to think.

Researchers from Radboud University in The Netherlands say their meta-study's results provide strong evidence that even when we choose to do something that's mentally taxing, it's probably not because we find the effort itself enjoyable.

"Managers often encourage employees, and teachers often encourage students, to exert mental effort. On the surface, this seems to work well: employees and students do often opt for mentally challenging activities," says psychologist Erik Bijleveld.

https://www.sciencealert.com/youre-not-imagining-it-thinking-can-actually-be-painful-study-finds

Well, that explains a lot.

[The Blue Flower]

1. I can attest to it

When I was working 40-hour weeks as a technical editor, I could actually feel my brain aching at the end of the day. Reading 8 hours a day is work.

[Warpy]

2. We all can

I don't know what's worse, brain tired or body tired. I was a nurse so I had both at the same time.

Best thing you can do for yourself if you've got some sort of throny problem that defies solution is get out of your own way, just do something else for a while, let your brain keep working out of sight. I've solved more software issues that way than any other.

[erronis]

3. Right you are. And the solutions developed while sleeping are often much better

If my consciousness is working on a problem the solutions tend to be over-complex with a ton of "what ifs".

Best to let go - but that can be hard too!

[erronis]

4. Other strange things that give me head-burn: auditory and ocular tests

You know, when they force you to listen and identify tones or detect lights blinking along the perimeters?

These cause me anguish because I don't want to fail the tests but my body is getting old(er), so my brain over-analyzes everything.

[IbogaProject]

5. Thinking hard also burns lots of calories

I'm a type 1 diabetic and when I study I have to keep an eye on my blood glucose level.

[Javaman]

6. I think maga's have a low threshhold of pain.