Researchers studied different groups that use artificial light
Researchers used a wrist monitor to track the sleep patterns of 98 people in three Dobakum indigenous communities in Argentina. To study Toba-Qom living in communities with different power levels. During the study period, these communities had differences in power supply:
- There is no electricity in one community.
- The other has limited power supply, such as a single artificial light source.
- The third community lives in a fully electrified urban environment.
Researchers collected about 75% of Toba-Qom participants' sleep data for one to two lunar cycles.
The researchers found that as the moon progressed in a 29.5-day cycle, participants in all three communities showed the same sleep pattern changes. On average, people go to bed at the latest, at least 3 to 5 days before the full moon.
They then analyzed sleep monitoring data collected by 464 college students in the Seattle area for a separate study to find the same patterns of sleep changes.
Shortest sleep time before the full moon
Although it is assumed that sleep at night under the moonlight will be suppressed, I was particularly surprised by the two findings . First, as predicted, we did not see the greatest degree of sleep suppression on the night of the full moon; on the contrary, starting from the first few nights of the night of the full moon, nocturnal activity increased and sleep time was shortest.
It was also initially thought that this was because there was more moonlight in the first half of the night, but not necessarily the night after the full moon (because the moon rises late every night). I was very surprised to find that although this effect is small, it exists regardless of whether there is electricity.
Experts say the survey results are credible
Dr. Alex Dimitri, who has obtained dual certification in psychiatry and sleep medicine, said that the moon is most likely to work by increasing the light in the evening or night. This may suppress melatonin (a sleep hormone) that affects the onset and duration of sleep.
According to this study, the total sleep time does seem to be significantly delayed and reduced in the night before the full moon.
Whether it is artificial light or natural light-from the moon or sunset-will have an inhibitory effect on melatonin, so it is reasonable that moonlight may have a natural arousal promotion effect.
Research does not explain how the moon affects sleep
The main limitation of this study is that they cannot establish a causal relationship between moon phases and sleep changes. Obviously, the sleep time is synchronized with the moon phases, but it is still unknown how this happened. But the gravity of the moon may explain this.
The gravitational cycle associated with the lunar month may make humans particularly sensitive to light, moonlight, or man-made effects at nights close to the full moon.
Experts say everything is related to light
The point of all this is that humans are very sensitive to light. Humans have a circadian rhythm, a built-in biological clock, which does not necessarily run in a 24-hour cycle, and most people may run more slowly-a 25-hour cycle. It is exposure to light that can train us to enter the normal 24-hour cycle. Light is what really turns on your brain.
Will it affect your health?
For people who usually sleep 7 to 8 hours a night, 20 to 30 minutes of sleep deprivation is usually well tolerated. However, this can be a problem for people who have an average sleep time of less than 7 hours or who generally sleep poorly. Healthy sleepers are likely to do well, but the total sleep time is slightly reduced. For people with insomnia, thinness, or lack of sleep, 20 minutes of missing sleep may aggravate the injury.
Modern life, with artificial light sources, and forms of entertainment such as smartphones and TVs, may have a greater impact on our sleep than the moon. He said this will focus on maintaining healthy sleep behavior and sleeping habits.
Generalize
A new study found that we sleep less in the night before the full moon. However, the researchers did not understand why this happened. Researchers have observed those who live without, limited and full use of artificial lighting, and found that as the lunar cycle progresses, the same changes in sleep will occur. They think that the gravity of the moon may be related to this. Experts say that there is currently no evidence that the moon's gravity affects sleep, and light may cause this effect to some extent.
