It seems we have a single reservoir of brainpower for all acts of cognition and self-control, even those that are unrelated. When people are asked to suppress their emotions when under duress—for example, not showing frustration or sadness while watching a tragic film—they subsequently struggle on a wide range of unrelated tasks, such as resisting tempting foods or storing items in working memory. The phenomenon doesn’t stop there. Even physical challenges (e.g., performing a wall sit) can be impaired by exerting your mental muscle beforehand. Research shows that even if their bodies are
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