Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, May 15: As debates around 70 to 90-hour workweeks grow louder in India—fueled by comments from corporate leaders like L&T Chairman S N Subrahmanyan and Infosys founder Narayan Murthy—scientists are warning of a deeper cost to extreme work culture: the human brain.

In a striking new study conducted by researchers from South Korea’s Chung-Ang University and Yonsei University, scientists have found evidence that working excessively long hours can lead to measurable changes in brain structure, particularly in areas related to cognition and emotion.

The research, published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine, observed 110 healthcare professionals, dividing them into two groups—overworked and non-overworked. The findings revealed that individuals clocking longer hours had noticeable increases in brain volume in regions such as the middle frontal gyrus, insula, and superior temporal gyrus.

These changes are significant because these parts of the brain are linked to decision-making, emotional regulation, and mental resilience. While earlier studies had already tied long work hours to physical and mental health issues, this study is among the first to show concrete neurobiological effects.

The researchers emphasized that these structural shifts could have serious long-term consequences on a person’s emotional and cognitive well-being and called for further investigation into the enduring impact of chronic overwork. They also urged employers and policymakers to treat overwork as a legitimate occupational health risk.

As the push for productivity intensifies, the findings serve as a critical reminder: the brain has limits—and pushing beyond them could have lasting consequences.