Research shows that night-type people have better brain function than morning-type people
It is commonly said that 'staying up late at night is bad for your body,' and it is believed that staying up late at night has a negative impact on daytime activities. However, a research team from Imperial College London analyzed research data from over 26,000 people and found that night-type people performed better on cognitive tests than morning-type people.
Sleep duration, chronotype, health and lifestyle factors affect cognition: a UK Biobank cross-sectional study | BMJ Public Health
Night owls' cognitive function 'superior' to early risers, study suggests | Neuroscience | The Guardian
Night owls have sharper brain function than so-called morning people, research suggests | Daily Mail Online
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-13620635/Night-owls-sharper-brain-function-morning-people.html
A research team from Imperial College London conducted a study on more than 26,000 participants enrolled in the UK Biobank who completed tests of intelligence, reasoning, reaction time and memory.
The research team analyzed how the subjects' sleep duration, sleep quality, and chronotype, or the time of day when they feel most alert and productive, affect brain performance. As a result, it was found that people who were active at night and those classified as 'intermediate' had better cognitive function in the tests they performed, while people who were active early in the morning, or 'morning types,' had the lowest test scores of the three groups.
The researchers then compared test scores with sleep duration, and found that people who got between seven and nine hours of sleep each night performed best.
'In this study, we found that people who are active at night, known as 'night owls,' tend to perform better on cognitive tests than people who are 'morning types.' These chronotypes are not just personal preferences, but may influence our cognitive function. Understanding and addressing our sleep tendencies is important, but getting enough sleep, not too long or too short, is also important for brain health,' said Dr. Raha West, a member of the research team.
'Our study shows that sleep duration directly affects brain function,' said researcher Ma Daqing. 'Actively managing sleep patterns is crucial to enhance and protect brain function. Ideally, we hope to see policy interventions to improve people's sleep patterns.'
However, Professor Roy Kadosh of the University of Surrey pointed out, 'This study does not address the impact of sleep on cognition. However, I am concerned that many people will not understand this and may change their own sleep patterns. I also think it is premature to base policy interventions on this research, and other studies with different approaches are needed to justify the research.'
In addition, Dr. Jessica Cherekis of Brunel University criticized, 'Although the study design is excellent, there is no mention of the time of day when the subjects participated in the cognitive tests. The time of day the tests were administered could have a serious impact on the results. The research team also did not take into account the participants' educational background, so the results of this study are limited. ' She added, 'Everyone should aim to get a good night's sleep, but it's also important to recognize the time when you are most active and choose a sleep schedule that suits you.'
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