Full moon study does not rob sleep

Myth of the sleepless full moon night disenchanted

06/21/2014

At full moon, people suffer from insomnia: Scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry in Munich have now invalidated this widespread myth. In one study, they found no relationship between sleep and moon phases.

Around the full moon many myths entwine

Numerous myths have sprung up around the theme of the full moon since time immemorial: the witches dance on the Blocksberg, the werewolf moves around the houses in search of victims, the full moon robs people of their sleep. But a study released just before today's Day of Sleep now clears up the myth of the restless full moon night. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry in Munich were unable to find any connection between sleep and the phases of the moon in contrast to previous studies. They published their results in the journal „Current Biology“.

No provable connection between sleep and moon phases
Researchers analyzed large, pre-existing sleep records from a total of 1,265 participants from 2,097 nights. „After evaluating this large amount of data, we were unable to confirm earlier results from other studies“, said co-author and neuroscientist Martin Dresler. „We could not show a statistically proven relationship between human sleep and the moon phases.“ However, such influence has been seen in other studies in the past. In their research, researchers at the Max Planck Institute came across investigations that, like themselves, could not detect the influence of the moon. However, these were often not published.

Supposed affirmation of the myth
On the other hand, those researchers who found a connection published the results. It could sometimes have been random hits, such as those caused by the small subject groups. Once, in the group whose sleep was examined at full moon, especially many older people had been, who usually sleep worse than younger ones anyway. Thus, the myth seemed confirmed. The researchers speak in this context of a drawer phenomenon. „This phenomenon exists throughout science“, so Dresler.

Moonlight can disturb your sleep
Despite the new investigation, the study situation remains uneven overall, said the chairman of the German Society for Sleep Research and Sleep Medicine and Chief Physician of the Children's Hospital of the Cologne-Porz Hospital, Alfred Wiater: „The subjective component is undisputed, meaning that there are people who feel that they can sleep worse at full moon. To further clarify is the question of whether there are people who constitutionally could be more sensitive to the phases of the moon react than others.“ What the full moon brings on clear nights and actually affects many people in their sleep is the light. „Brightness is contrary to the release of the sleep hormone melatonin and thus has a sleep disturbing effect“, said Wiater.

People in industrial nations are sleeping less and less
However, beyond the full moon, there are well proven ones „Sleep disturbers“. Thus, high heat, too much alcohol or nicotine as well as physical and mental illnesses can be reasons for disturbed sleep. Or the other way around: „Disturbed sleep is a risk factor for many somatic diseases and most psychiatric illnesses“, explained Dresler. That range from anxiety disorders to schizophrenia to depression and in the physical area to cardiovascular disease. In addition, according to Dresler, there are indications that people in the industrial nations are sleeping less and less. It is unclear whether this is due to stress in the job, to the increasing sensory overload, to more and more entertainment offers or more party mood.

People do not get used to a little sleep
Wiater also sees health risks through social developments: „These include nighttime brightness and noise, shift work, globalization-related night-time internet activities, but also leisure activities with regular nocturnal sleep deprivation and private extensive nighttime media activities.“ It is not foreseeable that people will get used to the little sleep or even profit from it. „Consequences of adaptation in a positive sense are not recognizable.“ According to sleep experts, most people need seven to eight hours of sleep, some would take five to six hours.

Counting sheep does not help you fall asleep
Another popular belief, which has recently been refuted by a study, is that counting sheep helps to fall asleep, because the monotony should make drowsy. According to a report of the „New York Times“ Oxford University researchers examined different methods of sleep in test groups. They came to the conclusion that those who counted sheep or did not think of anything in particular took longer to fall asleep than those who envisioned a relaxing scene, such as on the beach or at a stream. They fell asleep on average 20 minutes faster. The subjects found the counting of the sheep rather exhausting and on top of that monotonous.

Tips for a good night's sleep
The tip of the researchers is therefore not to count sheep, but to think of pleasant and relaxing. According to experts, also help a properly tempered room to find restful sleep. The optimal sleep temperature is 15 to 18 degrees. Chemical sleep aids are usually discouraged, but there are naturopathic sleep aids, which can promote a restful night sleep. For example, valerian extracts alone or in combination with hops, lemon balm and passionflower have proven to be an alternative to the risky synthetic hypnotics and sedatives in a large number of clinical studies. (Ad)