Central fatigue originates in the central nervous system and is not necessarily linked to physical exertion. It may be caused by high levels of serotonin and tryptophan, depleted glycogen stores, and disturbances in circadian rhythms. It can be a symptom of conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome.
Central fatigue is a form of fatigue that originates in the central nervous system and is not necessarily a response to demanding physical conditions, but to other factors, such as the levels of certain compounds in the body. In central fatigue, people feel intensely tired and may want to lie down or sleep. There are a number of theories to explain how this type of fatigue develops, and it’s a topic of interest to researchers, as it has been implicated in conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome.
Very high levels of serotonin are seen in people with central fatigue, and many people also have high levels of tryptophan, a precursor to serotonin. Some researchers have suggested that this state occurs when excessive amounts of tryptophan pass over the blood-brain barrier in response to metabolic changes, triggering the overproduction of serotonin. People have also explored the role of glycogen stores, with some studies indicating that the central nervous system responds to depleted glycogen by triggering central fatigue to protect the body from damage.
This state appears to be related to circadian rhythms. During normal sleep times in the sleep-wake cycle, organisms often develop central fatigue even though there is no physical reason to be tired. It could be thought of as the central nervous system’s way of flashing lights to warn people that the show is about to start. People with disturbed sleep-wake cycles can develop extreme fatigue, sometimes at odd times. This can be seen in people with insomnia, who may experience central fatigue during the day but still cannot sleep.
One theory of central fatigue suggests it could arise when people exercise excessively. If people exercise for too long, causing core temperatures to rise as stored glycogen levels drop, the body is at risk of organ damage. The central nervous system can trigger a state of fatigue to induce the athlete to stop and rest with the aim of making the person more aware of the symptoms of hypoglycemia and overheating. Once people have rested, had a snack, rehydrated and cooled down, they can have energy again.
People with conditions associated with central fatigue sometimes have a hard time explaining it, because it’s not directly linked to physical activity levels. They may be able to engage in regular physical activity one day and be too tired to move the next, due to disturbances in the chemical balance of the brain.
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