‘ Brain function of night owls different from larks’
The brain function of very late risers and “morning larks” during the hours of the working day is different, according to a study.
Researchers scanned the brains of night owls with a bedtime of 02: 30 and a wake time of 10: 15, along with early risers.
The tests — performed between 08: 00 and 20: 00 — found night owls had less connectivity in brain regions linked to maintaining consciousness.
They also had poorer attention, slower reactions and increased sleepiness.
Researchers said it suggested that night owls were disadvantaged by the “constraints” of the typical working day.
They called for more research to understand the health implications of night owls performing on a work or school schedule to which they are not naturally suited.
Scientists took 38 people who were either night owls or morning larks ( people who went to bed just before 23: 00 and woke at 06: 30) and investigated their brain function at rest using magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI) scans.
The volunteers then carried out a series of tasks at various times, from 08: 00 to 20: 00, and were asked to report on their levels of sleepiness.
Morning larks were least sleepy and had their fastest reaction time in the early morning tests. They were also found to perform significantly better at this time than night owls.
In contrast, night owls were least sleepy and had their fastest reaction time at 20: 00, although they did not do significantly better than the larks at this time.
The brain connectivity in the regions that predicted better performance and lower sleepiness was significantly higher in larks at all time points, suggesting connectivity in late risers is impaired throughout the whole working day, researchers said.