Morning People And Night Owls Show Different Brain Function

Science Daily ^ | June 24, 2009 | Science Daily

[Squidpup]

Scientists at the University of Alberta have found that there are significant differences in the way our brains function depending on whether we're early risers or night owls.

Neuroscientists in the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation looked at two groups of people: those who wake up early and feel most productive in the morning, and those who were identified as evening people, those who typically felt livelier at night. Study participants were initially grouped after completing a standardized questionnaire about their habits.

Using magnetic resonance imaging-guided brain stimulation, scientists tested muscle torque and the excitability of pathways through the spinal cord and brain. They found that morning people's brains were most excitable at 9 a.m. This slowly decreased through the day. It was the polar opposite for evening people, whose brains were most excitable at 9 p.m.

Other major findings: ....

[Albion Wilde]

Who do night people sue for business-hours discrimination?

[Free_in_Alabama]

Being a night owl myself, I attribute it to being the Night Guards from the caveman days. Someone had to stay up at night and do the tasks while others slept.

[Fu-fu2]

As an evening person, I agree with the findings. Should have had a copy of this to show my bosses for jobs that started at 7 a.m.

[Albion Wilde]

I attribute it to being the Night Guards from the caveman days. Someone had to stay up at night and do the tasks while others slept.

Very interesting theory!

[MGMSwordsman]

As if we needed a group of scientists to tell us this??

[GraceG]

In some ways I think it would be cool if society was split into three shifts. But then that would be too much industry and it would make the libs sad.....

[BuckeyeTexan]

Excellent. Thanks for posting. This confirms what I’ve always known but could never prove. A lot of IT people are night owls. Employers who don’t understand that need to wise up and allow employees to work at their fullest potential. IT personnel rarely affect the productivity of 8:00-5:00 personnel with their absence during the day.

[catbertz]

I’ve always believed this. My IQ shoots up after 11am lol. Don’t ask me involved questions before then.

[Squidpup]

During school, I would start my homework after the 10 o’clock evening news and MASH were over

[ottbmare]

What about those of us who are never alert and productive at any time of the day? I'm always happy to take a nap . . .

[PUGACHEV]

I’m a night owl too, and that’s what I always thought: there was a niche for us back in caveman days. In fact, Orwell expresed it best when he said something like we [civilized society] sleep soundly at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on our behalf.

[Sensei Ern]

“IT personnel rarely affect the productivity of 8:00-5:00 personnel with their absence during the day.”

Except when the servers are down.

[LostInBayport]

I’ve always believed this. My IQ shoots up after 11am lol. Don’t ask me involved questions before then.

You said it! I started my work day around 10 this morning (self-employed) but will probably go to 10 tonight with time out in between. I regularly keep going until 1 in the morning if I have to...I prefer that. The idea of starting work at 7 a.m....no way. I have even refused to meet clients at early hours, because when I have done it in the past I've noticed my mental abilities weren't what they should have been because of the early hour.

My parents still laugh about how I never wanted to go to bed as a kid and my grandmother always referred to me as a "night owl".

[norraad]

"Some must watch, while some must sleep"

Some old English Guy

[Carley]

My poor kids. I thought they were just slackers, never wanting to get going in the A.M.

[RoadTest]

This isn’t news. It’s just sluggish ol’ science finally getting around to what we all knew already.

[Centurion2000]

The idea of starting work at 7 a.m....no way. I have even refused to meet clients at early hours, because when I have done it in the past I've noticed my mental abilities weren't what they should have been because of the early hour

Night owl here too ... and AMEN to what you just said.

[Cementjungle]

As an evening person, I agree with the findings. Should have had a copy of this to show my bosses for jobs that started at 7 a.m.

Lol... that was always a struggle for me in 30 years of corporate life. Despite being on call 24X7 all the time (computer work) they always wanted me there bright and early for pointless meetings. I always won out in the end, but was always a battle.

[vpintheak]

All you night owls suck! Morning people rock!!!!!