The reason many people cannot concentrate on work

A study shows that the brain's waking and sleeping process occurs continuously even when people are alert, affecting their ability to concentrate at work.

The brain is in a waking state, sleeping continuously even when people are awake.(Photo: Mauricio Lima / AFP).

In a study published in the journal Science on December 2, the team at Stanford University in the US concluded that even when people are alert, a part of the brain still falls into a constant sleep and wake state .

This process is similar to an increase in brain activity during sleep but to a lesser extent, only a part of the brain rests for a few seconds at a given time. It also explains why many people find it hard to concentrate on their work, even when they're awake.

The team said that when neurons are in the final phase, they are more willing to perform tasks. So, everyone's tiredness and alertness are based on whether the brain nerve cells then function or rest.

They also found that cells are less likely to fall into a resting state when a person is focusing on specific tasks. This demonstrates that the regulation of brain activity is important for concentration.

" Selective attention corresponds to the fact that part of your brain is a little more alert , " said study co-author Tatiana Engel.

The team examined the monkey's ability to pay attention by attaching probes to their brains.

" The monkey is better aware of the change in stimulation when neurons are in the waking state , " Engel said.

From the results of the study, the scientists found that the brain undergoes continuous resting to conserve energy and remove excess.