Maybe you shouldn't stay up late to study...
Researchers took 12 people with a short version of a gene and 12 people with the long version of a gene. They were kept awake for 40 hours (!), and asked to perform various memory tests. People who had the short version of the gene were better at the low-sleep cognitive skills than people with the long version. You might be part of the 10% of the population who has only the long version. If you like to wake up early, then plan on getting sleep at night and studying during the day.
8 comments:
I think I might have the long PER3 gene. If I don't get my sleep, I'm nothing, but I don't fall asleep fast. Maybe I have both long and short. Any research about sleep is important to me. In my Psych 7a, we are talking about how sleep effects your work. Maybe they can help make a medicine that gets rid of the long PER3. Sleeping is so underrated nowadays, especially in college. People ask me how I can go to sleep at midnight. I go "I need it or else I can't do anything". Sleep research is extremely important and it needs to be in the spotlight more. More college kids need to take sleep seriously. I've learned that craming for a test doesn't work the night before. You need to let information you have learned to settle before you sleep or you forget it. It also works to space out your studying because it works better.
http://www.sro.org/defaulthigh.html
This website is about sleep research. It is cool.
I need to tell my roommate that. He ALWAYS stays up late to cram for tests
Sami
8219
This article was very interesting because the fact that I'm writing this comment so late at night is totally related to this article. I am a night person and love to stay awake at night, but there are times when I need the deep sleep to keep me focused. So as I was reading this article, I was trying to figure out which gene i had, the long or short gene. I always thought that in order to stay awake, some kind of caffeine or energy drink was needed, but now I find that it might be genetic. I found that very interesting because I've tried caffeine to stay awake, but it never worked on me. So I figured I had the long PER3 gene. However it's sometimes weird for me because I get sleepy whenever I have to study for something, but I can stay up late when I'm doing something non-study related facing the consequences in the morning. So, I think people need to learn that sleep is good for you and will help you focus more, whether they feel sleepy or not. Also, they need to learn that the ability to stay awake and still function properly might be genetic, so energy drinks and caffeine might be all in the mind.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5202278.stm
here's an interesting article on how enery drinks/caffeine might make people more sleepy.
Lyndsay 3718
Wow. After reading that, I think I might have finally discovered what is wrong with me! I go to bed before 10pm and wake up rather early for practice. I do not know how to test for it, but I am pretty sure I may have the long per3 gene. It makes sense if I do because both my parents are the type who go to sleep early and wake up before dawn!
A couple years ago I found out that I had mononeucleosis, and when the doctor told me it practically stays in your system your entire life, I was pretty frightened. She told me that I need to get 10 hours of sleep, plus as many hours of exercising I do. I exercise between 3-4 hours a day, but there is no possible way I can find 13-14 hours to sleep everyday. Two days ago I slept 13 hours, and still managed to fall asleep during half my classes... but I dont feel sick at all like I did when I really had mono. Now I am wondering if maybe its just a part of me to need to go to sleep early, or if it is still mono.
here's a site that includes almost all sleeping disorders with symptoms. http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/332/7545/828
it seems like Ihave every one. :[
Alexandra 5802
This article is very interesting! I am pretty sure that I have the short per3 gene, since even though I love to sleep, I get like 5 hours of sleep per night, and am still able to function the next day. On the other side, I am always yawning, and it feels like I am constantly tired. Even when I get more than 11 hours of sleep (sometimes on the weekends), I still feel tired! Sleeping is one of my favorite things to do, and I wish I could sleep all day. Unfortunately, with the combination of school, work, studying, partying and exercising, I definitely do not sleep enough as I should be. I get the most tired when I am reading, and I have the most energy when I am out partying. I am also the type who crams the night before a test. I have never really done poorly on a test, so I can't say that this method has not worked for me. However, I hate cramming, but for some reason, I always end up doing it. Ironically, I have to cram tonight for a test that I have tomorrow! In general, most college students do not get enough sleep, because of their busy schedules. However, college students need a lot of sleep, even more than adults do, because they use their brains a lot! I stay up pretty late most nights, which is a very bad habit. I need to change this habit, since after I graduate in a couple of weeks, I am planning on finding a good job, which is going to require me to wake up early. Sleeping is one of the few things that most people love, that is actually a basic necessity for survival. We should not take advantage of sleep, but should enjoy it to the maximum capacity that we can.
Here is an interesting article about the negative effects of sleep deprivation:
http://www.apa.org/monitor/oct01/sleepteen.html
Brandon Mead
5818
I was fascinated with the comment that some people are actually predisposed to disliking shift work. I really do believe this genetic theory is true. My girlfriend cannot work a real job in which she must clock in and out and I've never understood why. She can work forever on jobs where she can make her own schedule and do the work at her own pace. I am much the opposite, I love clocking in working my eight hour shift and then clocking out because I don't have to take my work home with me. It seems like this is a very interesting topic that I hope is research more and discussed much more.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,801868,00.html
This is a website I found that describes some of disorders associated with sleep patterns
Carole 2034
Before I entered college, my sleeping pattern was different than it is right now. I stay up later than I used to. However, in high school, I would try to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep every night, and now thinking about it, the amount of hours I rest are still the same. I think no matter how late I try to stay up without being drowsy it will still affect me the next day. For me to have a normal day and not be grumpy, I need my sleep. I may have the long PER3 because the results that the researchers obtained are true about my sleeping pattern. It’s really amazing to know that its controlled by a genetic trait instead of one’s sleeping habits.
This link is how lack of sleep affects the brain:
http://www.webmd.com/news/20000209/lack-of-sleep-takes-toll-on-brain-power
Nicholas 9969
I would definitely have to classify myself as a short PER3 gene type. During study abroad in Tokyo my colleagues and I would routinely go out for all nighters around the city and then miraculously make the 9:15 train for school the next day. Generally we had some kind of quiz at the beginning of the week, so Mondays were not fun-days.
When it comes to studying for big exams, however, I've always given preference to sleep if I'm trying to cram for a test. Despite whatever genes I have, I just find that I'm more productive when I'm not bleary eyed and sapped of all concentration. For me, pulling an all nighter requires a bit of planning, but generally as long as I get about 5 hours of sleep I can last a pretty long time with decent concentration.
It's almost impossible for me to sleep longer than 8 hours at once. Unless, of course, I find myself looking at another Tokyo sunrise after a night out.
Here's an interesting article that we can probably all relate to regarding the effects of sleep deprivation: http://health.ucsd.edu/news/2000_02_09_Sleep.html
Post a Comment