Prolonged exertion of self-control causes increased sleep-like frontal brain activity and changes in aggressivity and punishment

Erica Ordali (), Pablo Marcos-Prieto (), Giulia Avvenuti, Emiliano Ricciardi, Leonardo Boncinelli, Pietro Pietrini, Giulio Bernardi and Ennio Bilancini
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Erica Ordali: a Molecular Mind Laboratory, Institutions, Markets , Technologies School for Advanced Studies Lucca , 55100 Lucca , Italy
Pablo Marcos-Prieto: b Laboratory for the Analysis of compleX Economic Systems , Institutions, Markets, Technologies School for Advanced Studies Lucca , 55100 Lucca , Italy
Giulia Avvenuti: a Molecular Mind Laboratory, Institutions, Markets , Technologies School for Advanced Studies Lucca , 55100 Lucca , Italy
Emiliano Ricciardi: a Molecular Mind Laboratory, Institutions, Markets , Technologies School for Advanced Studies Lucca , 55100 Lucca , Italy
Pietro Pietrini: a Molecular Mind Laboratory, Institutions, Markets , Technologies School for Advanced Studies Lucca , 55100 Lucca , Italy
Giulio Bernardi: a Molecular Mind Laboratory, Institutions, Markets , Technologies School for Advanced Studies Lucca , 55100 Lucca , Italy
Ennio Bilancini: b Laboratory for the Analysis of compleX Economic Systems , Institutions, Markets, Technologies School for Advanced Studies Lucca , 55100 Lucca , Italy

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2024, vol. 121, issue 47, e2404213121

Abstract:

Impulsive reactions in social interactions may result in poor or even detrimental outcomes. Particular cognitive states, such as mental fatigue induced by extended practice with cognitively demanding activities, especially if combined with sleep restriction or deprivation, seem to impair the individuals’ ability to exert self-control effectively and may result in impulsive behaviors, including aggressive acts. We demonstrate that exertion of self-control for as little as 45 min can lead to an increased propensity for engaging in aggressive acts in the context of socially relevant choices, as measured by a set of economic games. Also, we show that such behavioral changes are associated with increased sleep-like (delta) activity within frontal brain areas related to decision-making and impulse control. The local occurrence of sleep-like slow waves may lead to a disengagement of frontal areas and explain the reduced ability of individuals to exert self-control effectively. Our results suggest that sleep-like activity may emerge within the awake brain within a relatively short time scale, with detectable effects on socially relevant behavior.

Keywords: ego depletion; mental fatigue; local sleep; punishment; aggressive behavior (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nas:journl:v:121:y:2024:p:e2404213121

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