The verdict from scientists from bad habits do not ever get rid of

They just soldered to the cerebral cortex

As a child, we both teachers and parents been telling: of bad habits can be eliminated by force of will. But new research has shown that our acquired weakness do not leave the cortex. Firmly soldered to it.

This was proved by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA). They experimented with rats that were trained to turn off the T-maze to the right or left, depending on what kind of signal they heard writes zemladom.org. If the rat turned right, waiting for her reward: chocolate milk or sweetened water. In order to ensure that such behavior has become a habit in animals, the researchers removed the reward, and the rats still ran by the sound to where it was used to treat. They then slipped to the delicacy of lithium chloride, which causes nausea, but the rats still ran to where they prompted a habit.

However, the habit disappeared after researchers blocked the work infralimbicheskoy crust. After the operation, the rat ran up to the fork in the maze, suddenly "sober" and did not go to the harmful "the treat." It turns out that the brain of the animal knew what to expect, but these data were not considered because of the strong influence of habit. Once the habit of suppressing the behavior and purpose of action becomes adequate to each other.

But here's the problem: instead of rats there is a new habit. In response to the "left" signal the animals began to run to the right. This habit can also be destroyed by removing the time neuron infralimbicheskoy crust. But then the rats recovered their old habits: hearing "left" signal, ordering run left, they obey him.

Thus, the area of ​​the prefrontal cortex is a bit of a stock and simultaneously switch habits. Although the new habits and take advantage of the old do not disappear but are stored in infralimbicheskoy crust and can be pulled out into the world as soon as possible.

BTW

To bad weakness used quickly

Researchers from the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at University College London to determine how long the average person needs to develop at some useful habit. For example, to run in the mornings.

12 weeks, "tortured" 96 volunteers, forcing them to bring some action to automatism. These people have consistently worked out of three good habits - drinking juice, eat fruit, and most importantly, to run for 15 minutes.

As scientists expected, the first two habits formed quickly. And over the last had to sweat. Six volunteers at all out of the race, and not being able to bring myself to run even for 10 minutes.

The rest as much on average it took 66 days to "get involved" in improving measures (see "manual" here).

- Such a long time spent on the acquisition of useful habits, is a paradox - says one of the researchers Philip Lally. - After all, the desire to smoke or to drink a glass or two of dinner possessed person very quickly.

Of course, the difference is that bad habits cause pleasure once. It would be desirable to repeat and repeat. But even useful - eventually contribute to the development in the body of endorphins - natural substances similar to drugs, which is also nice. Nature seems to be encouraging people to benefit your body. Yet from the harmful give very difficult, and the useful easy. And this is another oddity.