Night Owls Excel in Cognitive Function Compared to Early Risers, Study Shows

New research has turned the tables on the common belief that early risers are more productive than night owls. According to a study involving over 26,000 participants, those who stay up late exhibit superior cognitive abilities compared to their early-to-bed counterparts.

The study, conducted by researchers from Imperial College London, analyzed data from the UK Biobank study, focusing on intelligence, reasoning, reaction time, and memory tests. The findings suggest that individuals who identify as night owls have better brain function than those who go to bed early.

The researchers examined the effects of sleep duration, quality, and chronotype—the natural preference for being active at certain times of the day—on cognitive performance. They discovered that night owls and those with intermediate sleep patterns had the highest cognitive scores, while early risers scored the lowest.

Historically, creative individuals such as artists, authors, and musicians have often been night owls. Notable examples include Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, James Joyce, Kanye West, and Lady Gaga. Despite the success of political figures like Margaret Thatcher, Winston Churchill, and Barack Obama, who thrived on little sleep, the study emphasizes the importance of getting between seven and nine hours of sleep for optimal brain function.

Dr. Raha West, the lead author and clinical research fellow at Imperial College London’s department of surgery and cancer, emphasized the importance of balancing natural sleep tendencies with adequate sleep duration. She stated, “While understanding and working with your natural sleep tendencies is essential, it’s equally important to remember to get just enough sleep, not too long or too short. This is crucial for keeping your brain healthy and functioning at its best.”

Prof. Daqing Ma, co-leader of the study, highlighted the direct impact of sleep duration on cognitive function. He noted, “We found that sleep duration has a direct effect on brain function, and we believe that proactively managing sleep patterns is really important for boosting, and safeguarding, the way our brains work. We’d ideally like to see policy interventions to help sleep patterns improve in the general population.”

Despite these findings, some experts urge caution in interpreting the results. Jacqui Hanley, head of research funding at Alzheimer’s Research UK, pointed out the need for a more detailed understanding of the brain’s mechanisms, stating, “Without a detailed picture of what is going on in the brain, we don’t know if being a ‘morning’ or ‘evening’ person affects memory and thinking, or if a decline in cognition is causing changes to sleeping patterns.”

Jessica Chelekis, a senior lecturer in sustainability global value chains and sleep expert at Brunel University London, also noted limitations in the study. She mentioned that the research did not account for educational attainment or the time of day the cognitive tests were conducted. Chelekis emphasized that the study’s main value lies in challenging stereotypes about sleep.

References:

1. BMJ Public Health. Night owls’ cognitive function ‘superior’ to early risers, study suggests.
2. The Guardian. Night owls’ cognitive function ‘superior’ to early risers, study suggests.