sleep
When you learn a new skill, like playing the piano or mastering a golf swing, you might have heard that “practice makes perfect.” But according to a new study published in the Journal of Neuroscience, the timing of your sleep could be just as important as the practice itself. Researchers found that motor memories—our brain’s way of holding on to skills and actions—are not just consolidated over time, but they can be significantly enhanced when sleep closely follows practice. The research team set out to explore a longstanding debate in neuroscience: Does sleep play a role in consolidating moto...
PsyPost (UK)
New research published in the Journal of Sleep Research suggests that a specific type of sleep, known as rapid eye movement (REM) sleep or “dream sleep,” can predict how stressed college students feel before an important exam. The study found that students who experience more REM sleep earlier in the semester tend to have higher levels of anxiety as final exams approach. These findings add a fascinating layer to our understanding of how sleep affects emotional processing and stress in everyday life. REM sleep is one of the five stages of the sleep cycle that our bodies naturally progress throu...
PsyPost (UK)
A recent study has found that adolescents who are overweight or obese are more susceptible to cognitive impairments following sleep restriction compared to their peers with healthy weight. This research was published in JAMA Neurology. Previous research has established a link between pediatric obesity and cognitive difficulties, such as impaired executive function. Poor sleep has also been associated with increased adiposity (having a lot of body fat) and impaired cognition. However, the mechanisms underlying these associations have remained unclear. Led by Lindsay M. Stager, researchers from ...
PsyPost (UK)
The unsettling experience of nightmares is something many people have faced, but new research has found that loneliness might be a significant predictor of their frequency. A recent study published in The Journal of Psychology explored this connection, suggesting that our need for social bonds is deeply intertwined with our sleep quality. “We have long studied the health benefits that accompany close, affectionate relationships, so that naturally sparks our interest in understanding how well-being suffers when people feel disconnected and lonely. A handful of studies had shown that loneliness ...
PsyPost (UK)
A recent study published in BMJ Public Health has shed light on the connection between sleep patterns and cognitive performance. Researchers at Imperial College London found that older individuals who identify as ‘night owls’ tend to have higher cognitive scores compared to those who prefer morning activities. This finding offers new insights into how our internal biological clocks may influence brain function. “Our interest in this topic stemmed from a broader curiosity about how lifestyle factors, particularly sleep, influence brain health. Given the ageing population and the rising prevalen...
PsyPost (UK)
A recent study of employees in Germany found that higher sleep quality during weekends was associated with slightly lower levels of exhaustion during the workweek. These employees were better able to refocus on their work on Mondays, setting a positive tone for the entire week. The paper was published in the Journal of Organizational Behavior. Typically, employees work from Monday to Friday and then enjoy two days of leisure on the weekend. After these days of relaxation, Monday, the first day of the workweek, demands a return to focus on work tasks, potentially making Monday the most unpopula...
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A recent study published in Experimental Brain Research has shed new light on how total sleep deprivation impacts the brain’s ability to process and integrate multiple stimuli presented in quick succession. The researchers found that a complete day without sleep significantly impairs both attentional and temporal integration mechanisms. In other words, going without sleep for a whole day seriously hinders our ability to pay attention and process information quickly, which is crucial for reacting correctly to fast changes around us. Humans have a limited ability to process several events when t...
PsyPost (UK)
A recent study published in the journal Brain Communications found that reading on a smartphone without a blue-light filter significantly reduced melatonin levels, especially in adults, compared to reading with a blue-light filter or from a printed book. However, while adolescents were able to recover their melatonin levels before bedtime, adults continued to experience reduced melatonin levels. This suggests that avoiding smartphone use in the last hour before bedtime is advisable to prevent sleep disturbances. With the increasing use of smartphones and other devices emitting artificial short...
PsyPost (UK)
A recent study published in Psychiatry Research has found that going to bed late is associated with poorer mental health, regardless of whether individuals naturally prefer to stay up late or not. This finding suggests that late bedtimes come with psychological risks, even for those who are naturally inclined to be night owls. The human body’s internal clock, known as the circadian rhythm, plays a critical role in regulating sleep patterns. This circadian clock is located in the brain’s hypothalamus and influences various 24-hour behaviors, including sleep timing. People generally have differe...
PsyPost (UK)
A recent study has provided new insights into the complex role of sleep in brain function. Conducted on zebrafish, the research revealed that during the first half of a night’s sleep, the brain weakens the new connections between neurons formed while awake. However, this process does not continue into the second half of the night, leaving open questions about the latter stage’s purpose. Published in the journal Nature, the study supports the Synaptic Homeostasis Hypothesis, which suggests sleep serves as a reset for the brain. The exact function of sleep has long puzzled scientists. While it i...
PsyPost (UK)
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