Biometeorology
Under Pressure
Bruce Dan, MD, PBS.org’s HealthWeek
Whether you’re taking a test or writing an essay, sometimes the mental pressure can be pretty intense. But a new study in the International Journal of Biometeorology shows another kind of pressure may play a role in how well you do: atmospheric pressure.
Scientists asked 12 volunteers to perform several mental exercises…from proofreading to memorization, while researchers varied the barometric pressure in the room. Small, controlled changes in pressure made the alert volunteers perform better, and the sleepy subjects perform worse. But, when the researchers varied the pressure randomly, like the conditions during stormy weather, all the subjects experienced concentration lapses.
No one is sure why, but it’s thought that such changes in air pressure may cause changes in blood pressure, affecting brain activity.