Did you think that long working days left fatigue? Think again. A study by two South Korean researchers reveals that working more than 52 hours per week could change the structure of the brain.
This investigation, relayed by CNN, focused on 110 employees in the health sector. Result: significant changes have been observed in those considered to be “Overworked”.
The researchers divided participants into two groups: the “Overworked” On the one hand, the “Not overworked” on the other. The first group, Composed of 32 young employeesqualified and relatively new in their posts, regularly exceeded 52 hours weekly. In South Korea, this duration marks The legal limit of working time. Thanks to neuro-imagery techniques, scientists compared the cerebral volumes of the two groups. In overwork, of the alterations have been detected In the brain areas linked to emotions and executive control.
Sensitive areas of prolonged stress
The brain regions affected by overwork are not trivial. They participate in emotional regulation, memory, concentration, language and even self -awareness. The study highlights a potential relationship between excessive workload and neurobiological modifications that influence these functions. Clear, What you lose in balance of life, your brain also pays it. And these changes could explain certain cognitive disorders observed in people in a situation of chronic stress.
The authors of this research remain cautious. This is a pilot study, with a limited sample. But according to them, it represents a first step towards understanding the link between excessive work and brain health. The teacher Joon Yul Choi, co -author of the study and teacher at Yonsei University, specifies that These effects would not necessarily be final. If the stressful environment disappears, Part of the alterations could be reversible. Hope, but which requires rapid action.
The message is clear: lift your foot to preserve your mental health
This study corroborates what many mental health professionals have been denouncing for a long time. The prolonged work, not accompanied by sufficient recovery, does not only destroy the personal balance, He also erodes brain capabilities. At a time when productivity is often prioritized to the detriment of well-being, these data recall a simple principle: The brain needs rest To operate normally and avoid overwork. More than a luxury, lifting the foot becomes a cognitive emergency.
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