Laura Newcomer
For more than a decade, researchers have known that certain cells in our eyes may play a role in resetting our body’s circadian rhythms when exposed to light. This helps explain the strong link between artificial (or “blue”) light exposure (particularly in the evening hours) and difficulty falling or staying asleep. Now, a new study …
NBA players who skip sleep in favor of late-night tweeting perform worse in games the next day, a new study found. The study, which was published in the journal Sleep Health, examined how acute sleep deprivation impacts professional athletes’ game-time performance (1). This latest study adds to two distinct, growing bodies of research: one that …
Read moreStudy Finds Late-Night Tweeting Impairs Basketball Players’ Sleep & Athletic Performance
The battle of Dog People versus Cat People just got some more ammunition. New research suggests that when it comes to sleep quality, dog owners may have a leg up on cat owners. It’s the first study to investigate the distinct impacts of dogs versus cats on human sleep. We spoke with the study’s lead …
Read moreDogs Vs. Cats: Study Sheds Light On How Different Pets Affect Sleep Quality
Mattress warranties: They’re a favorite topic among family members, acquaintances, and long-lost friends. If you haven’t spent a social event debating the ins and outs of mattress warranties, then have you ever lived? Okay, so clearly we’re kidding. Warranties are hardly a glamorous topic of conversation, nor are they what anyone feels like thinking about …
Americans’ sleep schedules are increasingly less likely to be synced with natural patterns of daylight and more likely to sync with lifestyle factors. That’s the conclusion of a new study that looked at the relationship between Americans’ Twitter usage and “social jet lag.” “Social jet lag is defined as the difference between when people sleep …
Read moreAmericans’ Sleep Schedules May Be Syncing With Lifestyle Factors Over Natural Sunlight
The world’s largest sleep study has concluded, and the researchers identified patterns that are relevant to anyone looking to improve their sleep health. We spoke with Conor Wild, Research Associate in the Owen Lab at London’s Western University and the study’s lead author, to understand some of the study’s main takeaways. More than 10,000 people …
Sleep-deprived teens may be at a higher risk of engaging in risky or suicidal behavior, new research finds. The study, which was published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, found that teens who slept fewer than eight hours on an average school night were more likely to participate in a variety of unsafe behaviors, which ranged …
Read moreCould A Lack Of Sleep Lead To Risky Behavior In Teens?
A new study has found a certain set of nerve cells may be responsible for turning the brain “on” and “off,” thereby promoting sleep. The findings suggest this particular set of nerve cells (dubbed GAL neurons) is essential for maintaining normal sleep cycles. What’s more, GAL neurons may at least partially explain the relationship between …
Read moreResearchers ID A Neural “Sleep Switch” That Turns Sleep On And Off
Scientists have developed a blood test that determines whether a person has skipped a night of rest. The researchers discovered that people who have not slept within the past 24 hours develop unique biomarkers in their blood that indicate a lack of sleep. This research might set the stage for developing tools that enhance public …
Read moreScientists Have Created A Blood Test For Drowsy Driving
Going to bed and waking up at different times each day may increase the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic illnesses, including heart disease and type 2 diabetes. So concludes the first study to consider the relationship between disease risk and a minute-by-minute measure of sleep regularity. We spoke with the study’s lead author, Assistant Professor …
Read moreIrregular Sleep-Wake Cycles Are Associated With Higher Disease Risk