paulus 26 Posted July 25, 2013 Report Share Posted July 25, 2013 Full Moon 'disturbs a good night's sleep' By Michelle RobertsHealth editor, BBC News online Might humans have an internal "lunar clock"? Continue reading the main story Related StoriesLate nights 'sap kids' brain power' Crackdown on lunar-fuelled crime Myths about our minds A full Moon can disturb a good night's sleep, scientists believe. Researchers found evidence of a "lunar influence" in a study of 33 volunteers sleeping in tightly controlled laboratory conditions. When the Moon was round, the volunteers took longer to nod off and had poorer quality sleep, despite being shut in a darkened room, Current Biology reports. They also had a dip in levels of a hormone called melatonin that is linked to natural-body clock cycles. When it is dark, the body makes more melatonin. And it produces less when it is light. Continue reading the main story “Start QuoteIt's one of these folk things that you would suspect has a germ of truth” Dr Neil StanleyUK sleep expert Being exposed to bright lights in the evening or too little light during the day can disrupt the body's normal melatonin cycles. But the work in Current Biology, by Prof Christian Cajochen and colleagues from Basel University in Switzerland, suggests the Moon's effects may be unrelated to its brightness. Lunar rhythms The volunteers were unaware of the purpose of the study and could not see the Moon from their beds in the researchers' sleep lab. They each spent two separate nights at the lab under close observation. Findings revealed that around the full Moon, brain activity related to deep sleep dropped by nearly a third. Melatonin levels also dipped. The volunteers also took five minutes longer to fall asleep and slept for 20 minutes less when there was a full Moon. Prof Cajochen said: "The lunar cycle seems to influence human sleep, even when one does not 'see' the Moon and is not aware of the actual moon phase." Some people may be exquisitely sensitive to the Moon, say the researchers. Their study did not originally set out to investigate a lunar effect. The researchers had the idea of doing the lunar analysis years later, while chatting over a few drinks. They went back to their old data and factored in whether or not there had been a full Moon on the nights the volunteers had slept in their lab. UK sleep expert Dr Neil Stanley said, nonetheless, the small study appeared to have significant findings. "There is a such a strong cultural story around the full Moon that it would not be surprising if it has an effect. "It's one of these folk things that you would suspect has a germ of truth. "It's up to science now to find out what's the cause of why we might sleep differently when there's a full Moon." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scothunter 12,609 Posted July 25, 2013 Report Share Posted July 25, 2013 always was gonna buy a telescope and check the moon out.think its cool as f**k when you get a full moon and its that red colour.looks like its about 5mile away lol Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bobcullen79 1,495 Posted July 25, 2013 Report Share Posted July 25, 2013 Isn`t it where lunatic came from, people going nutty on full moons. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LaraCroft 863 Posted July 25, 2013 Report Share Posted July 25, 2013 Isn`t it where lunatic came from, people going nutty on full moons. Yep, and Hysteria is from women, whose female innards went wrong ! To be fair, there really is something about night shifts on a full moon - more nutters than usual. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tiercel 6,986 Posted July 25, 2013 Report Share Posted July 25, 2013 Theres nothing new in that report, the moon can cause a tide in a teacup, and seeing as the brain is mostly water it follows that it would effect the brain. To what extent is impossible to say at the moment, but we do not get the word lunatics for nothing. TC Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scothunter 12,609 Posted July 25, 2013 Report Share Posted July 25, 2013 watched a programme once,there no more idiots when its a full moon or when its normal. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tiercel 6,986 Posted July 25, 2013 Report Share Posted July 25, 2013 watched a programme once,there no more idiots when its a full moon or when its normal. Well thats it, it was on the telly so it must be true. TC Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scothunter 12,609 Posted July 25, 2013 Report Share Posted July 25, 2013 lol Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Malt 379 Posted July 25, 2013 Report Share Posted July 25, 2013 Possibly relic behaviour from when our ancestors were scampering up and down trees and when trying to avoid being eaten was a fact of life? The brighter the moon, the more aware you had to be with things hunting you by moonlight, maybe? Like TC said, the body is about 70%+ water, maybe it don't even need the brightness to cause a reaction.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TomWard 32 Posted July 25, 2013 Report Share Posted July 25, 2013 i get very randey av sex 7 ta 8 tiams wife get sick ov ma she get sore Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tiercel 6,986 Posted July 25, 2013 Report Share Posted July 25, 2013 Possibly relic behaviour from when our ancestors were scampering up and down trees and when trying to avoid being eaten was a fact of life? The brighter the moon, the more aware you had to be with things hunting you by moonlight, maybe? Like TC said, the body is about 70%+ water, maybe it don't even need the brightness to cause a reaction.. Thats it Mal it's not the lumisity of the moon more the gravatiational pull. TC Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bobcullen79 1,495 Posted July 25, 2013 Report Share Posted July 25, 2013 watched a programme once,there no more idiots when its a full moon or when its normal. I dunno man, I get quite hyper when theres a full moon, also quite mischievous.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tandors 888 Posted July 25, 2013 Report Share Posted July 25, 2013 I'm sure I've seen some hospital programme like 24 hours in a &e and they sajd they are busier on full moons? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Frann 882 Posted July 25, 2013 Report Share Posted July 25, 2013 I'm sure I've seen some hospital programme like 24 hours in a &e and they sajd they are busier on full moons? Yep, ive seen one of these too. Admissions apparently do go up when the full moon is out. I think theres definitely something to it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Malt 379 Posted July 25, 2013 Report Share Posted July 25, 2013 People bleed more during surgery when there's a full moon too, I read that somewhere a while back.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.