![]() Shallower sleep, deeper dreams – perhaps my teenage impression was right after all. The University of Basel study, by Christian Cajochen and fellow chronobiologists, has provided perhaps the strongest indication yet that the moon really does affect the mind.įrom rigorously-collected data on 33 volunteers in a study of sleep quality and ageing, measuring brain activity, hormone secretions and phases of sleep, the researchers rather whimsically decided to analyse the effect of the lunar cycle.Īt full moon, the peak in melatonin levels (necessary for inducing sleep) was delayed by around 50 minutes participants took an average of five more minutes to fall asleep brain activity related to deep slumber decreased by 30% and there was a similar shortening of duration to that found by Roosli and his team. It is already known that loss of sleep can provoke epileptic seizures or a manic episode. According to Roosli and colleagues, this would have little impact on most people’s lives.īut I wonder whether research that targeted people with conditions susceptible to sleep disruption, such as bipolar affective disorder and epilepsy, may show a greater sleep differential and more significant consequences. In 2006, scientists at the University of Berne found that a sample of healthy volunteers slept for an average of 19 minutes less at full moon than at new moon. ![]() To study this further we need data not only on the lunar cycle, but also on weather conditions. More controversial is whether it’s sufficient to cause mental disturbance. PA/Owen Humphreysīut the direct effect of moonlight would be a reasonable premise for further research because light itself is not mystical (we know bright light can be a disturbing stimulus). ![]() The moon’s tidal effect is small and on bodily fluid, negligible.
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