Plane Brain

Next time you fly, here’s the perfect excuse to switch off your work laptop, put down the crossword and settle in with an in-flight movie. Traveling by plane can make it more difficult to think, according to Professor David Gradwell. This is because the air pressure on board planes is lower than it is at sea level, making it harder for the brain to make use of oxygen in the air, so diminishing its performance.

Gradwell advises fliers to sit back and relax rather than keeping busy by doing puzzles or catching up on important work.