Research paper
Mattson MP, Moehl K, Ghena N, Schmaedick M, Cheng A. Intermittent metabolic switching, neuroplasticity and brain health. Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 2018 Feb;19(2):63-80. doi:10.1038/nrn.2017.156
Why we cite it
Provides the theoretical framework for why fasting enhances cognitive function — not through catecholamines (which are covered by caf01/caf02) but through the metabolic switch to ketones, BDNF upregulation, and neuroplasticity. Also supplies the evolutionary rationale: brains that functioned well during fasting enabled successful food acquisition.