Biologists concluded that irritation during hunger is linked not to a drop in glucose levels, as previously thought, but to a person realizing their own energy deficit. This is stated in a study published in eBioMedicine.
The work’s authors revised the traditional explanation of “hangry” and established that the subjective feeling of hunger plays a crucial role. Ninety healthy volunteers participated in the experiment; for four weeks, they wore glucose monitoring sensors and noted their satiety levels and moods several times daily.
The initial analysis showed a connection between glucose fluctuations and emotional state, but after accounting for subjective feelings, this correlation virtually vanished. Researchers inferred that mood deteriorates precisely because of the awareness of energy scarcity, rather than due to biochemical changes.
Project participants emphasize that understanding one’s own hunger signals aids in better emotion management, even if the energy balance shifts. The research demonstrates a close link between metabolism and a person’s mental state.
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