Hi, Ville:

Excellent question. The importance of blood glucose as part of the energy source of self-control is well known! The failures of self-control appears when glucose is low or cannot be mobilized effectively to the brain. Does this leads to 'impulse buying' and more spending on the part of consumers? I think Not!  Also, it is important to restore glucose to a sufficient level to improve self-control. While in a state of self control, do consumers buy and spend less? I think Not!

Please take a look at this recent research study: Bos,Dijksterhuis, & van Baaren, (2012) showed that a period of unconscious thought can help when making complex decisions. Under some circumstances, unconscious thought improves decisions even more than conscious thought. Executive functioning depends on energy provided by glucose, and that the performance of various conscious processes deteriorates when energy is low.

Unconscious processes require less energy and may operate unhampered when energy is low. Therefore, the authors argued that whereas low blood glucose levels impair conscious thought, this is not the same for unconscious thought. An experiment, where the authors manipulated blood glucose levels, indicated that indeed, when making decisions, the unconscious can best be trusted when blood glucose levels are low, whereas conscious deliberation yields the best results when blood glucose levels are elevated!

It's a common understanding among worldwide consumers that---particularly when you're hungry, do not go out for shopping! Otherwise you will or may end up buying the whole store! Perhaps this is also not true!

Food for thought...!

• Bos, M. W., Dijksterhuis, A., & van Baaren, R. (2012). Food for Thought? Trust Your Unconscious When Energy Is Low. Journal Of Neuroscience, Psychology, & Economics, 5(2), 124-130.

Hope this helps!

Nadeem

"Food for thought...!"

With that sales pitch, I see a booming market for preloaded syringes of Ketamine and Xylazine specifically designed for on demand wise decision making in unconscious state!

Tausif, i am really pleased to get your attention on this.

Interesting concept though...what's wonderful about it---is that its based on a research study!

Tausif,

perhaps there is a caveat...as the study says..."Under some circumstances", unconscious thought improves decisions even more than conscious thought!  What if, if this is true?  

What do you think?

Tamara, Monica, Doreen, Nahid, Nizar, Hussin, Tarek & Dianne---

What do you think?

"perhaps there is a caveat...as the study says..."Under some circumstances", unconscious thought improves decisions even more than conscious thought! What if, if this is true?

What do you think?"

Dear Nadeem,

Let me sleep on it; when I am unconscious, I may be able to come closer to the correct conclusion.  ;)

In the mean time, psychobabble* aside, according to somewhat more objective science, the measurements of actual glucose consumption show that during the process of neuronal activity (such as thinking or focussing on a specific task), the region of brain involved in the activity utlizes increased amount of glucose. However, concurrent with this event, brain increases the supply of glucose to this region through a proportionate increase in blood flow, and brain being the supreme ruler of our bodies, cunningly manages glucose homeostasis through gluconeogenesis from liver to the rest of the body, ensuring a continued increased supply where it needs it. It is rather clever of our brains!

"Linking neuronal brain activity to the glucose metabolism":

http://www.tbiomed.com/content/10/1/50

* Problem with such so-called studies is that they often lack causal association. A casual association "under some circumstances" may be enough for popular media stories but it is often not real science. 

'gluconeogenesis---'ensuring a continued increased supply where it needs it'...fantastic Tausif. 

However, Tausif---are we saying that  this statement is also not true---"the unconscious can best be trusted when blood glucose levels are low"?

Thank you for your replies. I will certainly look up the information given here.

Nadeem:

"-are we saying that this statement is also not true---"the unconscious can best be trusted when blood glucose levels are low"?"

While unconscious, we rest, our brain recuperates or occupies itself with making up dreams. I am not sure that during unconscious state there is any decision making related to conscious problems.

How about a simpler common-sense explanation that once you (your body and brain) have rested and recuperated well, you are more likely to make better decisions!

As for the science in the publication you cited, I shouldn't comment on specifics without reading it.

Regards,