Four things you didn't know about sleep
12 Apr 2011

Four things you didn’t know about sleep

2 mins to read
The most fascinating findings from the past year of sleep research—plus new ‘snooze better’ tips from psychologist Anthony Grant. By Rosie Brogan.


Sleep may strengthen your memory 

Sleep consolidates your memories, scientists believe. “Sleep is making memories stronger,” says Jessica Payne from the University of Notre Dame in the US, in reference to a study she co-wrote late last year. “It also seems to be doing something which I think is so much more interesting, and that is reorganising and restructuring memories.”

The amount of sleep you get may have a profound effect on your cognitive abilities, she says—so do your utmost to clock eight hours a night. “People who say they’ll sleep when they’re dead are sacrificing their ability to have good thoughts now.”

Sleep might make you more attractive

Don’t knock the term ‘beauty sleep’—it really exists. According to a study published in the British Medical Journal in late 2010, getting a poor night’s sleep may show up on your face. Twenty-three sleep-deprived adults aged between 18 and 31 were photographed and observed by 65 subjects. Those who had been low on zzzz’s were rated as less healthy, more tired and less attractive. Ouch!

A poor night’s kip may impact adolescents’ weight

A study in the April 2010 issue Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health suggested that overweight adolescents sleep less than their healthy-weight counterparts—mostly on non-school days, however. The findings suggest that sleep duration affects weight and contributes to obesity.

Testosterone levels in men may influence sleep quality

At a sleep research conference held in France in May 2010, Zoran Sekerovic from the University of Montreal presented findings that revealed low testosterone levels in men (over 50) decreases their quality of sleep—specifically slumber phases three and four.

Though the problem can potentially be treated with hormone therapy, this line of research is still in its infancy.

Sleep-better strategies

… from Dr Anthony Grant and Alison Leigh, authors of Eight Steps to Happiness:

  • Plan your exercise for the late afternoon/ early evening. Don’t exercise strenuously before bed (it will hype you up when you need to be winding down!)
  • Keep afternoon power naps to 20 minutes, otherwise you’ll lower your chances of getting deep sleep throughout the night
  • Alcohol leads to fragmented sleep, so keep it to a minimum
  • Stop using the computer 30 mins before bed—this, too, is a stimulant
  • Keep a morning routine: wake up at the same time no matter how much sleep you’ve had.
  • If you’re a worrywart, keep a notebook by your bed and jot down worrying thoughts so you can resolve these during the day (and not when you’re trying to snooze). 
     

References are available on request



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