TWO THUMBS UP….

A little medical info here. Each part of the body has its own nerve cell area in the brain. It is like a map. These areas can be measured for things like reaction time.

For instance the thumb and the baby finger have a quicker response time and the fingers in the middle are somewhat inhibited by the “crossfire” of the two outer fingers.

Scientists used an image on a monitor that represented all 10 fingers. The subjects had to press the corresponding keys to what was being marked on the image. The outside fingers were  the fastest, the middle finger the slowest.

I think they did not do their research properly because I am pretty sure that I can get my middle finger up much quicker than my pinky, especially in a driving simulation test.

NOW THIS EXPLAINS A LOT

Studies done at the University of Wisconsin-Madison show that when you are sleep deprived there are parts of your brain that are actually asleep while you are awake.


Well duh!!! I could have told them that. How many times I have gone through my day on auto pilot when I have not slept well the night before.


When I used to have a few nights in a row when I didn't sleep I would notice time would pass and I really didn't remember what I had done during the day.


Did I really eat that bag of cookies? Nope, don't remember that.


Did I say I would put your clothes in the dryer two days ago? Nope don't remember that either. (I am sure that smell will come out when you wash it again)


The researchers kept the little rats in their study awake for 4 hours past their little bedtimes and then recorded the activity of their brain cells (neurons). I didn't know rats had bed times did you?

The rats appeared to be completely awake but their little neurons were not all firing. I know people who are like that all the time. Now maybe they have a good excuse.


The rats were taught a  new task to measure their responses. They were reaching out for a sugar pellet. The more sleep deprived they were the harder it was for them to grab the sugar pellet. Their motor skills were affected.


Think back to my lack of memory about the bag of cookies. I told you I didn't eat them all. I probably wouldn't have been able to actually grab them being in my sleep deprived state.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

ONE MORE REASON TO GARDEN

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Do you know what seratonin is? What it does? It is a neurotransmitter. What does that mean for you and I?
Seratonin provides a wide range of control of emotions and the body, including anger, aggression, body temperature, pain, mood, sleep, dreaming, human sexuality, appetite, and metabolism.
Did you know that you can increase your seratonin levels by gardening. How perfect is that? We can do something we love and it might make us feel better.
Scientists in the UK suggest that  there is a bacteria found in soil that may act like an anti-depressant. This friendly bacteria that is commonly found in soil can jump start serotoinin production in your brain cells working like an antidepressant.
There had been a project where they treated cancer patients with this Mycobacterium and found it increased their quality of life.

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Well this is a no brainer for me. Even if it doesn't work we still have lovely days in our gardens. And if it does work then maybe we will feel better, maybe sleep better or crave fewer foods. That is enough of an enticement for me. So get out there and play in the dirt. Pet your petunias, tickle your tomatoes, cuddle your calendulas. It is good for you.