Night owls may have better brain function than morning people, a recent study suggests. Researchers from Imperial College London delved into the data from the UK Biobank study to explore the relationship between sleep patterns and cognition. They specifically focused on sleep duration, quality, and chronotype, which categorizes individuals as “morningness,” “eveningness,” or “intermediate.”
The study revealed that individuals who reported sleeping between seven to nine hours each night tended to perform better on cognitive tests assessing intelligence, reasoning skills, reaction times, and memory. Surprisingly, night owls and those classified as “intermediate” displayed superior cognitive function compared to morning people.
Lead author Dr. Raha West highlighted the importance of understanding one’s natural sleep tendencies and emphasized the significance of getting adequate sleep to maintain optimal brain health and function. Dr. West noted that while chronotypes play a role in cognitive performance, the duration of sleep is equally crucial.
The study involved an analysis of nearly 27,000 participants, examining their performance on cognitive tests in relation to their self-reported sleep patterns. Factors such as gender, age, and certain health conditions like angina, high blood pressure, and diabetes were found to impact cognitive performance negatively.
Co-study leader Professor Daqing Ma stressed the direct impact of sleep duration on brain function and advocated for proactive management of sleep patterns to enhance and protect cognitive abilities. The researchers suggested the implementation of policy interventions to promote improved sleep patterns in the population at large.
This study sheds light on the intricate relationship between sleep habits and cognitive function, indicating that a balance of sufficient sleep and understanding one’s chronotype could potentially boost brain health. The findings underscore the importance of prioritizing sleep and adopting healthy sleep practices to support overall cognitive well-being. Further research in this area could lead to valuable insights and strategies for optimizing brain function through effective sleep management.
