A study conducted on 26,000 individuals has revealed that night owls score higher on tests measuring intelligence, reasoning, and memory.
This challenges the common perception that those who stay up late and do not sleep until dawn struggle to perform well in daytime tasks.
Night owls tend to be smarter than early risers.
A recent study shows that staying up late may enhance brain power, with night owls demonstrating higher intelligence than early risers.
Specifically, a research team led by prominent scholars from the Royal College of London analyzed data from the UK Biobank study, which included over 26,000 participants who completed tests on intelligence, reasoning, reaction time, and memory.
The researchers then examined how sleep duration, quality, and timing (the times of day participants felt most alert and productive) affected brain function.
The findings indicated that night owls possess “superior cognitive function“, while early risers had the lowest scores.
Staying up late closely correlates with creativity. Notable figures known as “night owls” include artists, authors, and musicians such as Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, James Joyce, Kanye West, and Lady Gaga.
Politicians like Margaret Thatcher, Winston Churchill, and Barack Obama are also famously known for their minimal sleep.
Individuals getting 7-9 hours of sleep per night perform best on cognitive tests.
However, the study also found that sleep duration is critical for brain function: Those who sleep 7-9 hours each night perform best on cognitive tests.
Dr. Raha West, the lead author and clinical researcher in the Department of Surgery and Cancer at Imperial College London, stated: “While understanding and adapting to your natural sleep patterns is essential, it’s equally important to ensure you get enough sleep, neither too long nor too short. This is vital for keeping your brain healthy and functioning optimally.”
Professor Daqing Ma, co-leader of the research team from the same department, added: “We found that sleep duration has a direct impact on brain function, and we believe that actively managing sleep patterns is crucial for promoting and protecting how our brains operate.”
“Ideally, we would like to see policy interventions aimed at improving sleep for the entire population,” the professor continued.
Yet, some experts urge caution in interpreting these findings.
Jacqui Hanley, head of research funding at Alzheimer’s Research UK, stated: “Without a detailed picture of what is happening in the brain, we cannot determine whether being a ‘night owl’ or an ‘early bird’ affects memory and cognition, or if cognitive decline leads to changes in sleep patterns.”
Jessica Chelekis, a senior lecturer and sleep expert at Brunel University London, pointed out that the study has “significant limitations” as it does not account for educational background or the timing of cognitive tests.
She further noted that the main value of this research lies in challenging stereotypes and biases surrounding sleep.
