Being a "night owl" associated with mental sharpness
A study from Imperial College London links individuals' morning or evening preference to brain function. 'Night owls' show higher cognitive scores than 'morning larks'. Optimal brain function requires 7-9 hours of sleep. Dr. Raha West stresses understanding natural sleep tendencies and consistent sleep schedules for cognitive performance. Policy interventions for improved sleep patterns are suggested.
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A study conducted by researchers at Imperial College London has found a link between individuals' preference for morning or evening activity and their brain function. The study, which analyzed data from over 26,000 people, revealed that 'night owls' tend to have higher cognitive scores compared to 'morning larks'. The research also highlighted that sleeping between 7-9 hours a night is optimal for brain function, with deviations from this range having detrimental effects. Factors such as age, gender, lifestyle choices, and chronic diseases were considered in the analysis. Lead author Dr. Raha West emphasized the importance of understanding one's natural sleep tendencies and maintaining a consistent sleep schedule for optimal cognitive performance. The study, published in BMJ Public Health, suggests that managing sleep patterns proactively is crucial for enhancing brain function. The findings indicate that policy interventions to improve sleep patterns in the general population could be beneficial.
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4 commentsThis is about how people self-described when they feel alert and productive. It doesn't necessarily mean there aren't benefits (or conversely, detriments) to "early to bed, early to rise."
It's possible that the work of those who feel the most alert in the morning is more physical -- for example, manual labor. Maybe they have less of a need and opportunity for cognition, so their scores are poorer. Maybe, too, the work makes them feel differently by evening from how night owls feel.
It's also possible that those with a high need for cognition tend towards work that can be done at any time of the day or night, and they are tired in the morning because they (whether optimally or not) stayed up late in the night working on it.
So, a follow-up question is how this relates to behavior. If night owls consistently go to bed around the time of peak melatonin production and wake up early, do their scores improve? Do their preferences change? And the same question in the inverse for larks.
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