The brain also has an energy saving mode

To ensure uninterrupted operation, when an emergency occurs, the brain switches itself to energy saving mode.

German scientists at the Max Planck Institute (Frankfurt, Germany) said they have discovered a strange ability of the human brain: It knows how to work under an energy saving regime.

The human brain also knows how to work according to the energy saving regime. Illustration.

According to the scientists, brain cells are capable of generating and spreading nerve impulses, to control sodium and potassium currents. This activity needs significant energy consumption. However, the brain can reduce this energy to an unusually low level, only a quarter of the normal mode, without causing any damage to brain cells at all.

When the voltage is lost by brain neurons, scientists determine the time and volume of exchanged sodium and potassium ions, thereby seeing the difference between the active energy common mode and energy saving mode. They say, the brain uses 'energy-saving mode' in emergencies to ensure uninterrupted brain activity during life.

According to the assessment, this work is an important step on the way of studying brain metabolism as well as being very meaningful when explaining brain signals.