Night owls have better cognitive ability than early risers, reveals new study

A recent study highlighted in the New York Post suggests that night owls may outperform early risers on cognitive tests, according to research conducted by Imperial College London using data from the UK Biobank involving over 26,000 individuals. The study examined how sleep patterns affect mental sharpness and cognitive abilities.

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Night owls consistently scored higher on cognitive measures

After completing various assessments, participants indicated whether they felt more alert and productive in the morning or the evening. Researchers found that a person's chronotype¡ªwhether they lean towards morning or evening activities¡ªsignificantly influenced their test results, categorizing them as 'morning larks' or 'night owls'.

Night owls consistently scored higher on cognitive measures compared to early birds, with morning larks typically scoring the lowest. Those classified as 'intermediate,' with a moderate preference for either morning or evening, also showed improved cognitive performance.

In one instance, night owls outscored morning larks by 13.5%, and in another by 7.5%. Intermediate chronotypes scored 10.6% and 6.3% higher than morning types, respectively. Younger individuals without chronic health conditions like diabetes or heart disease tended to perform better.

Dr. Raha West, from Imperial College London's Department of Surgery and Cancer, commented, "Our study revealed that adults who naturally lean towards eveningness tend to perform better on cognitive tests compared to morning people. These chronotypes seem to have an impact on cognitive function beyond personal preference."

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Not all morning people perform poorly on cognitive tasks

Dr. West clarified that this doesn't imply all morning people perform poorly on cognitive tasks. Rather, the findings indicate a general trend where evening types show better cognitive performance.

Experts emphasised the importance of getting seven to nine hours of sleep per night for optimal brain health, regardless of one's chronotype. The study underscored that this sleep duration enhances memory, reasoning, and information processing, while fewer than seven or more than nine hours may negatively impact brain health.

Dr. West added, "Understanding and aligning with your natural sleep tendencies is crucial, but it's equally important to ensure you get just the right amount of sleep¡ªneither too little nor too much. This is essential for maintaining optimal brain function."

Despite sleep duration proving critical for cognition, individuals reporting insomnia symptoms didn't significantly underperform compared to others, suggesting the importance of considering symptom severity and duration in such cases.

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