Hacker News Reader

> “we examined the cognitive function of farmers over the planting cycle. We found that the same farmer shows diminished cognitive performance before harvest, when poor, as compared with after harvest, when rich.”

> And here’s the kicker: “This cannot be explained by differences in time available, nutrition, or work effort. Nor can it be explained with stress.”

View on HN

How can they make that claim? Did they have a set of rich farmers under constant stress that did not have diminished cognitive performance? How does one scientifically measure stress?

> How can they make that claim?

How about your own claim? You can start with yourself, which should be much easier since if you want to ask the person something you just have to do it in your head.

I repeat:

How about your own claim?

You can start with yourself, which should be much easier since if you want to ask the person something you just have to do it in your head.

If you were even an iota as critical about your own content-free mutterings you could make the world a better place. Seriously.

I do wonder though if seasons might affect cognition. How much time difference was there between "before harvest" and "after harvest"? Lots of farmers get a little depressed over the winter months.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com