WHAT HAPPENS IN THE BRAIN WHEN YOU STUDY VS. PROCRASTINATE?


(i want to start inserting this image at the beginning of all my writings.)

Note: Greetings everyone! Long time no see...

A lot has been happening over the past few months since my last update in April. I have been reevaluating some stuff regarding my standings in some places, and also, school has been up my NECK. But in all that, I realised that I want to take this blog more seriously. It's a place where I can learn with and from anyone who reads my blog, for which I am very grateful, and I just want to be more present for all of you and towards the work I do. 

along with that, I would love to join some journalism club or even be the school editor for the university I will be going to, because in my current school, that position has already been filled, and this platform will allow me to grow in my skills.

Thank you all so much for being patient, and we are so back!

BLOG TIME:

As you have seen from the title, this blog will be focused on learning and understanding the neural pathways and mechanisms behind our behaviours when we study compared to when we procrastinate, helping us approach the feelings we feel when in these positions...

Usually, when one starts studying, it feels very hard and taxing. This is justified medically as it has been seen that at the beginning of a task, the Prefrontal cortex (PFC) (figure 1), the area in your brain that is responsible for self-control, planning, and decision-making, has to:

  • suppress distractions
  • maintain attention towards the task 
  • allocate working memory
So in about the first 5-10 minutes of studying, there is a lot more energy being used than before studying, prompting that high effort feeling we have.

Figure 1- location of the PFC in the brain

However, when you have passed this 5–10-minute time period, the brain starts to increase the concentration of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which has a role in reward and motivation. Meaning that committing (and fighting haha) for these first few minutes is not that bad considering the reward and good feeling after you've finished studying.

Now to what happens when we procrastinate.
When procrastinating and avoiding demanding or stressful tasks by scrolling on social media or napping to get away from the work that needs to be done, the limbic system in your brain spikes dopamine levels for that time to induce pleasure and reinforce this procrastination loop that says when you nap or scroll, you will feel good. 

But after this dopamine spike has passed, guilt and stress levels rise due to the worry of not being able to do the work that you had to, increasing cortisol (stress hormone) levels, making you feel horrible. 
 
Taking all this into consideration, I would argue that it is better to endure those short, hard 10 minutes to start studying and feel amazing afterwards, than feel good for a short time, then regret after. 

I really hope you have learnt something and remember this blog every time you see yourself avoiding any task, not just studying alone!
Goodbye everyone, see you next week!












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