The early bird doesn't all the time catch the worm, a minimum of in terms of cognitive performance. Study from Imperial College London suggests that night owls – those that feel more alert and productive within the evening – are inclined to perform higher on brain tests than those that rise early.
Researchers analyzed data from greater than 26,000 participants and located that evening people performed as much as 13.5% higher on cognitive tests than morning people. Even those with out a strong preference for morning or night still performed higher than early risers.
“Our study found that adults who are naturally more active in the evening tended to perform better on cognitive tests than morning people. These chronotypes are not just personal preferences, but could also influence our cognitive functions,” explained lead writer Dr. Raha West.
The study took under consideration age, gender, smoking, drinking, health status and other aspects. Younger people and people without chronic diseases generally performed higher on the tests. A healthier lifestyle was also related to higher brain performance.
But don't not sleep all night just yet. The study also found that getting the precise amount of sleep is crucial for everybody. People who slept between seven and nine hours an evening had the most effective brain function. Those who slept too little or an excessive amount of showed decreased cognitive performance.
“While it's important to understand and work with your natural sleep habits, it's equally important to remember to get just enough sleep, not too much, not too little,” West said. “This is critical to keeping your brain healthy and functioning optimally.”
While these findings are interesting, the study points out that more research is required to totally understand how sleep patterns affect brain performance. Whether you're an evening owl or an early riser, give attention to getting a very good night's sleep to maintain your brain sharp.
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