What staying up all night does to our brain

pull an all-nighter

to stay up all night, especially to study or work

circadian

connected with the changes in the bodies of people or animals over each period of 24 hours

rhythm

a flow, repetition or regularity

circadian rhythms

biological processes that follow a 24-hour cycle

cyclical

repeated many times in the same order

virtually

almost or nearly

over the course of

during

alert

awake and attentive

dwindle

to become gradually smaller or less

suprachiasmatic nucleus

a part of the brain that regulates circadian rhythms

alert

to warn somebody about a situation that requires immediate action or a dangerous one

pineal gland

a part of the brain that produces melatonin

neuron

a nerve cell that transmits information in the brain and body

hypothalamus

a brain region controlling bodily functions like hunger, thirst, and sleep

release

to set free or emit a substance

compound

a substance formed by the combination of two or more elements

GABA

a neurotransmitter that calms brain activity

core body temperature

the internal temperature of the body

core

most important; main or essential

drift

to go from one situation or state to another without realizing it

throughout

in or into every part of something

adenosine

a chemical that builds up in the brain to promote sleepiness

latch

to fasten something with a latch

latch onto

to attach to firmly

receptor

a part of cell that receives signals or chemicals

caffeine

a drug found in coffee and tea that makes you feel more active

bind

to tie somebody/something with rope, string, etc. so that they/it cannot move or are held together strongly

bind to

to connect or attach to

boost

an increase or improvement

jittery

nervous or unable to relax

ace

to do very well (usually in tests or tasks)

hippocampus

a brain region involved in memory and learning

consolidate

make stronger or more solid

slot

to put something into a space that is available or designed for it

long-term

lasting or having an effect over a long period of time

neocortex

a part of the brain involved in higher-order thinking

trigger

to make something happen suddenly

deprivation

lack of something important, like sleep

motor skills

the ability to control movement and coordination

take a hit

to be damaged or badly affected by something

coordination

the ability to use different parts of the body smoothly and efficiently

induce

to cause something to happen or arise

euphoria

a feeling of intense happiness

briefly

for a short time

starts off

begins

portion

one part of something larger

process

to handle or work through something mentally

regurgitate

repeat information without understanding

pattern

repeated design or sequence

irritable

easily annoyed or angered

amygdala

a part of the brain that handles emotion

go haywire

to become out of control

prefrontal cortex

outer layer of the brain involved in thinking

fire on all cylinders

to operate at full efficiency

bounce back

to recover quickly

bounce

to move somewhere in a lively and cheerful way

constantly

all the time; repeatedly

take its toll

to have a negative long-term effect

leave so vulnerable

to make someone more exposed to harm

Rome wasn’t built in a day

important things take time to accomplish

diabetes

a disease in which the body cannot properly process sugar

stroke

a sudden interruption in blood supply to the brain

chronic

(of a disease) lasting for a long time; difficult to cure

vulnerable

weak and easily hurt physically or emotionally