If you use the tool on yourself, click the option to view or spend research points, then cancel out of it through the dialog option you can no longer access the menu to spend research points.
I'm fairly sure it says that even if you don't pick a topic, you can't research for another 24 hours.
That it does. Even if you don't spend, the text warns you that you will not able to return to research for next 24 hours.
Though, I've noted that my points don't seem to increase lately even if I don't spend points.