According to Van Cauter, the mechanism may have to do with a small area in the brain where neurons respond to both eating and sleeping.

• 考特说，这种与缺乏睡眠有关的激素变化的确切原因还不清楚，这种机制可能与大脑中某个区域有关，在这个区域中神经元对饮食和睡眠都会作出反应。