You're Not Imagining It: Thinking Can Actually Be Painful, Study Finds [View all]

A new review of past research backs up a feeling many of us will have had when trying to figure out a math problem, weigh up the pros and cons of a decision, or work out what's happened in a complicated time travel movie.

It really does hurt to think.

Researchers from Radboud University in The Netherlands say their meta-study's results provide strong evidence that even when we choose to do something that's mentally taxing, it's probably not because we find the effort itself enjoyable.

"Managers often encourage employees, and teachers often encourage students, to exert mental effort. On the surface, this seems to work well: employees and students do often opt for mentally challenging activities," says psychologist Erik Bijleveld.

https://www.sciencealert.com/youre-not-imagining-it-thinking-can-actually-be-painful-study-finds

Well, that explains a lot.