Willpower Ch: 2

Glucose and Willpower

• High-sugar, high-preservative foods may affect personality or behavior; however, this is a minority view in psychiatry. This is a controversial idea connected to the "Twinkie defense" in Dan White's trial.

• PMS can lead to altered behavior, emotional outbursts, and impulsive actions. This was cited as a factor in Melanie Griffith's divorce situation.

The Mardi Gras Theory

• The Mardi Gras theory proposes that indulging oneself before a period of self-denial can build willpower. The theory suggests that allowing yourself to indulge in food before a period of fasting can strengthen self-control.

• This theory was inspired by the traditions of Mardi Gras and Lent, where people indulge before self-sacrifice and fasting.

• Experimentally, subjects given a milkshake (high-glucose) improved on a willpower task compared to subjects given a tasteless low-fat drink.

• The study's results discredited the concept of indulgence as the source of increased willpower, but it did succeed in removing the ego-depletion effect.

• An alternative explanation for improved willpower is glucose itself (from any food).

Brain Fuel & Glucose

• Glucose, a simple sugar manufactured by the body from various foods, fuels various bodily functions, including the brain.

• The brain uses glucose to produce neurotransmitters, crucial for brain signaling.

• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can impair concentration, control over emotions, and contribute to anxiety, impacting overall well-being. This is more common in criminal populations.

• The glucose connection to criminal behavior was shown in 1979 Dan White trial but it was not glucose that led him violent but severe depression leading to diminished responsibility for the acts he committed.

• Studies, including ones conducted in Finnish prisons, showed a correlation between impaired glucose tolerance and increased likelihood of violent recidivism. These problems are often not isolated

Glucose and Self-Control

• Low glucose levels decrease willpower, impacting various aspects of behavior and decision-making.

• Levels of glucose in the body correlates with problems related to self-control, including, but not limited to, aggression, anxiousness and negative emotions such as frustration, anger, and impulsiveness

• Simple acts of self-control, like ignoring distracting words on a screen, can significantly deplete glucose levels.

• Experiments using lemonade with either sugar or a diet sweetener demonstrate that sugar provides a temporary glucose boost, facilitating sustained self-control during certain tasks.

• Similar results in decreased self-control, were observed in dogs, indicating a possible link across species.

• Skepticism regarding the direct link between glucose depletion and self-control prompted researchers to investigate brain activity, including changes in the nucleus accumbens and amygdala.

PMS and Glucose

• Women experience increased food cravings, particularly for sweets, during the luteal phase of their menstrual cycle and higher glucose demands.

• A physiological explanation for PMS is that increased energy is diverted to the reproductive system, leaving less available for other functions, including cognitive abilities, which thus correlates to lapses in self-control.

• The increased demands on the body for glucose is related to increased calorie demands of the female reproductive system.

• PMS symptoms include heightened emotions, impulsive purchases, and other decreased self-control that impacts interpersonal relationships.

• PMS does not cause one singular behavior, but a myriad of behaviors influenced by the body's glucose demands and emotional states

• Glucose depletion is not evenly distributed across women and is often connected with other external factors.

Strategies for Glucose Management

• Maintaining consistent glucose levels is important for optimal self-control, with a particular focus on eating nutrient-dense, low glycemic index foods.

• Adequate sleep is critical for proper glucose metabolism and overall self-control, and lack of sleep significantly diminishes self-control.

Conclusion

• Glucose plays a crucial role in regulating willpower and emotional regulation in both men and women.

• Glucose or calorie intake is important in managing stressful situations and dealing with increased emotional demands/difficulties