A study published in Sports Medicine and Health science has revealed that defecating may improve cognitive performance in elite athletes.

Researchers from the University of Taipei studied 13 triathletes who were tracked using the Stroop test, a demanding cognitive task that measures brain flexibility in response time.

Each of the 13 triathletes in the study participated in three sessions of Stroop testing.

They found that the participants performed significantly better on the test after pooping, and even better when they took magnesium oxide, a laxative.

Study lead and biochemist Chen-Chan Wei wrote, “The most striking finding of this study is the unequivocal improvement observed in Stroop test performance for all participants consuming magnesium oxide,"

"Even in the absence of magnesium oxide, defecation led to improved Stroop test results for 9 out of 13 individuals."

The findings also suggest that defecating may help conserve your body’s resources so it can better direct blood and oxygen to your brain and muscles, instead of using them for digestion.

Speaking with PsyPost, physiologist Chia-Hua Kuo of the University of Taipei said: “Our findings suggest that the rectal region plays an unexpected role in rapid decision-making,”

“Reducing pressure in this area may enhance cognitive judgment, potentially offering practical applications for mental performance.”