Late to bed or early to rise? The Debate Continues

Late to Bed or Early to Rise? The Debate Continues

Science Supports Night Owls with Recent Findings on Brain Function

It's a question often posed on uninspiring first dates: Are you a night owl or a morning lark? This conversation, much like discussions about zodiac signs, tends to be predictable. 

A debate may follow about the benefits of joining the "5 am club" and the importance of early morning "me time" for pre-dawn enthusiasts. On the other hand, late-nighters romanticize the tranquility of the night and the enhanced flow of creative juices after a post-dinner drink. 

The conversation continues, with an argument that never seems to be resolved. However, science might have an answer.

A study by researchers at Imperial College London examined data from 26,000 people to understand how sleep timings, duration, and chronotype (whether a person is a night owl or a morning lark) affect cognitive functioning and reasoning. 

The worst off are those who don't get the right amount of sleep—both too much and too little are detrimental. Surprisingly, the much-vaunted early risers fall behind those who stay up late at night when it comes to brain function. 

Understandably, the study is being widely shared on social media by those who enjoy sleeping in. Long dismissed as lazy, they are now citing science to defend their nocturnal habits

It might, however, be too early to conclude the sleep debate. Studies come and go, and there will always be political leaders and corporate bosses boasting about how much they work and how little they sleep—unlike mere mortals who desire less work and more rest. Science can hardly compete with such self-righteousness. 

Perhaps that's okay. Some pointless debates—whether there should be pineapple on pizza, if vegetarian biryani exists, and, of course, night owls versus 5 am-types—are needed for those boring dates.