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Mental energy may be understood as the ability or willingness to engage in cognitive work.^[1]

It is distinct from physical energy,^[1] and has mood, cognition, and motivation domains.^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5] Concepts closely related to mental energy include vigor and fatigue.^[1]

Mental energy is not well-defined, and the scientific literature on mental energy is quite limited.^[1] A variety of measures for assessing aspects of mental energy exist.^[1]

Many people complain of low mental energy, which can interfere with work and daily activities.^[1] Low mental energy and fatigue are major public health concerns.^[1] People may pursue remedies or treatment for low mental energy.^[1] Seeking to improve mental energy is a common reason that people take dietary supplements.^[6]

Neurotransmitters

Many different neurotransmitters have been theoretically implicated in the control of mental energy.^[6] This has often been based on the effects of drugs acting on these neurotransmitters.^[6] These neurotransmitters include dopamine, norepinephrine, orexin, serotonin, histamine, acetylcholine, adenosine, and glutamate.^[6] Hormones, including glucocorticoids like cortisol, as well as cytokines, have also been found to regulate mental energy.^[7]^[8]^[9]^[10]

Food, drugs, sleep, diseases

Mental energy can be affected by factors such as drugs, sleep, and disease.^[1]

Drugs

Drugs that may increase mental energy include caffeine, modafinil, psychostimulants like amphetamines and methylphenidate, and corticosteroids like hydrocortisone and dexamethasone.^[1]^[6]^[7]

Drugs that may decrease mental energy include sedatives and hypnotics like antihistamines, benzodiazepines, and melatonin, as well as dopamine receptor antagonists like antipsychotics.^[1]^[11]

Foods, beverages etc

There are many marketing claims of foods, beverages, and dietary supplements improving mental energy, but data to substantiate such claims are limited or absent.^[5]^[6]^[12]

Sleep

Sleep deprivation may decrease mental energy in an exposure-dependent manner.^[1]

Disease

Various disease states, such as cardiac disease, cancer, stroke, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and certain mental health conditions like depression, may be associated with decreased mental energy.^[1] Chronic fatigue syndrome is characterized by a lack of the energy needed for the basic activities of daily life.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ Lieberman HR (2007). "Cognitive methods for assessing mental energy". Nutr Neurosci. 10 (5–6): 229–42. doi:10.1080/10284150701722273. PMID 18284031. S2CID 44452508.
^ O'Connor PJ (July 2006). "Mental energy: Assessing the mood dimension". Nutr Rev. 64 (7 Pt 2): S7–9. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2006.tb00256.x. PMID 16910215.
^ Lieberman HR (July 2006). "Mental energy: Assessing the cognition dimension". Nutr Rev. 64 (7 Pt 2): S10–3. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2006.tb00252.x. PMID 16910216.
^ Barbuto JE (July 2006). "Mental energy: Assessing the motivation dimension". Nutr Rev. 64 (7 Pt 2): S14–6. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2006.tb00253.x. PMID 16910217.
^ ^a ^b Gorby HE, Brownawell AM, Falk MC (December 2010). "Do specific dietary constituents and supplements affect mental energy? Review of the evidence". Nutr Rev. 68 (12): 697–718. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00340.x. PMID 21091914.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f O'Connor PJ, Kennedy DO, Stahl S (November 2021). "Mental energy: plausible neurological mechanisms and emerging research on the effects of natural dietary compounds". Nutr Neurosci. 24 (11): 850–864. doi:10.1080/1028415X.2019.1684688. PMID 31665988. S2CID 204968005.
^ ^a ^b Boksem MA, Tops M (November 2008). "Mental fatigue: costs and benefits" (PDF). Brain Res Rev. 59 (1): 125–39. doi:10.1016/j.brainresrev.2008.07.001. PMID 18652844. S2CID 206344941.
^ Jager A, Sleijfer S, van der Rijt CC (January 2008). "The pathogenesis of cancer related fatigue: could increased activity of pro-inflammatory cytokines be the common denominator?". Eur J Cancer. 44 (2): 175–81. doi:10.1016/j.ejca.2007.11.023. PMID 18162394.
^ Plihal W, Krug R, Pietrowsky R, Fehm HL, Born J (August 1996). "Corticosteroid receptor mediated effects on mood in humans". Psychoneuroendocrinology. 21 (6): 515–23. doi:10.1016/s0306-4530(96)00011-x. PMID 8983088. S2CID 23244238.
^ Tops M, van Peer JM, Wijers AA, Korf J (November 2006). "Acute cortisol administration reduces subjective fatigue in healthy women". Psychophysiology. 43 (6): 653–6. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8986.2006.00458.x. PMID 17076823.
^ Bruno RL, Creange SJ, Frick NM (September 1998). "Parallels between post-polio fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome: a common pathophysiology?". Am J Med. 105 (3A): 66S – 73S. doi:10.1016/s0002-9343(98)00161-2. PMID 9790485.
^ Fernstrom JD (January 2001). "Diet, neurochemicals, and mental energy". Nutr Rev. 59 (1 Pt 2): S22–4. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2001.tb01889.x. PMID 11255799.