Does thinking burn calories? Like for example thinking of a movie, work, etc. Not stressful, just thoughts?

Answer 1

Yes, it does....

In 1986, researchers isolated both the "at rest" and "active"
consumption of calories in the brain. Since then we've learned quite
a bit about brain activities, particularly as PET scans have been
applied to monitor glucose consumption in the brain.

As a result, we know lots of things, including that:
* energy consumption in the brain is related to learning. In other
words, once you've learned something (like mastering that chess game),
the energy consumption goes down.

* energy consumption in the brain is more than two times higher for
children under age 4. This is no surprise because they are learning
and building brain structure. The brain's energy consumption levels
around age 10 to 12.

Wayne State University
"Brain Surges," (DiCresce, undated)
http://www.med.wayne.edu/wayne%20medicine/wm97/brain.htm

* IQ can effect energy consumption. After learning a task, lower IQ
people have to exert more energy to complete a task than high IQ
people who have learned the same task.

ENERGY CONSUMPTION
=====================

Energy consumption by the brain is 230-247 calories, based on 17
calories/gram and human brain sizes of 1,350-1,450 grams. During
periods of peak performance, adults increase that energy consumption
by up to 50%, according to psychology lecturer Mark Moss, of the
University of Northumbria.

While this may not seem an extraordinary amount of energy, the brain
may use 30% of a body's total energy, while being only 2–3% of total
body mass.

Moss cites the original 1986 work of Siebert, Gessner, and Klasser on
the energy supply of the central nervous system in his thesis. The
thesis, particularly the chapter 1 introduction, is a good and not
overly technical discussion of what we know about brain activity,
including descriptions of how PET scans are being used to monitor
glucose consumption in the brain. I've linked the first chapter:

University of Northumbria
"Oxygen Administration, Cognitive Performance and Physiological Responses,"
(Mark C. Moss, PhD Thesis 1999)
http://psychology.unn.ac.uk/mark/chapter1/chap1.htm

Answer 2

It is true that thoughts use energy, but to say that you would burn calories by thinking is complicated. Let me ask you this. Are you capable of not thinking AT ALL while you're awake? If you answered no, which you should have, because nobody other than a comatose patient who's brain dead is capable of not thinking at all, then that answers your question. Yes you will be burning calories while thinking, but no, not more than you would if by doing something else. And definately not as much as actually using your muscles. I'd venture to say that eating and digesting food probably uses more calories than thinking does, but that's an assumption on my part.

Answer 3

I suspect you'll find the brain in the "awake" state burns slightly more energy than the "sleep" state.

If you consider yourself thinking (to some degree) when awake, then yes- thinking burns calories. And if it triggers an emotional response, you will DEFINITELY burn calories.

Answer 4

who gives a crap if thinking burns calories

Answer 5

Your kidding me riight?

Answer 6

No, because if it did we would all be skinny.