psychology research questions about sleep

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National sleep foundation’s sleep time duration recommendations: methodology and results summary, the national sleep foundation's sleep health index, the importance of sleep regularity: a consensus statement of the national sleep foundation sleep timing and variability panel.

Sleep Research Questions

Our research team has made progress on the first step of our Sleep & Learning research synthesis pilot - distill a list of relevant and actionable questions.

As compared to the generic advice to "get more sleep" or "sleep 8ish hours", this list of research questions is a much more nuanced and practical approach to parsing and synthesizing the sleep science literature. Specifically, knowing the answers to even a third of these questions could notably change how I orient to and prioritize my own sleep routine to maximize learning. Exciting!

Everyone on the team pitched in their respective questions and here is the master list of what we came up with. I loosely bucketed these into categories, though there is potential overlap between groupings for any specific article.

Partial sleep deprivation or deviation

These questions focused on the the impact of less sleep or offset sleep patterns on learning.

• What is the decay rate on learning from an hour loss of sleep?
• What are the quantitative dynamics of the effects of deviations from (individually) optimal sleep patterns on learning?
• Under what conditions might sleep deprivation enhance aspects of learning?

Incidentally, here is a fascinating single-subject experiment from Alexey Guzey (on himself) with partial sleep deprivation and cognitive performance tests (conclusion: no impairment from 4 hours a night for 2 weeks)

Individuation

These questions focused on applying sleep themes and averages to the individual.

• How much do I need to sleep to maximize my learning potential?
• How do learning-related sleep requirements change at different life stages? --> Related: How much do my children need to sleep to empower their best learning?
• What is the nature of individual differences in the effects of sleep on learning? --> Related: What are the key individual differences that influence sleep and learning?
• What are the most important and reliable leading indicators of the effects of sleep variations on learning that are available to laypeople?

Sleep + learning mechanics

These questions relate to either the mechanics of sleep or the mechanics of learning and how the two relate.

• How does afternoon nap affect learning throughout the day? Related: --> Is napping throughout the day and night an effective substitute for total overnight sleep hours measured by impact on learning? --> How might the timing of daytime naps be optimized if we use naps as a compensatory strategy? ‍
• How might my sleeping position (i.e. face up, side) affect later learning after waking?
• What is the ideal time that you should learn before sleep to retain most information?
• What level of learning cognitive load should you do before sleeping and when?
• How do alarm-triggered vs. natural wake ups compare in terms of their impact on learning?
• What pre-sleep or post-wake-up rituals can we engage in to enhance learning?
• How does the impact of sleep on learning vary by type of information/learning?
• Can individual memories be reactivated and strengthened during sleep? (i.e. using auditory and olfactory cues)
• Are there any consequences or advantages to being a monophasic, biphasic or polyphsic sleeper? Is there an optimal sleep pattern?
• Can we learn new material while we are sleep? Distinct from consolidating / encoding what we learned while we are awake?
• What aspects of learning are impacted by sleep?
• How does sleep differentially consolidate different kinds of learning (procedural, factual, conceptual, ... ?)
• How do the stress hormones, which are affected by sleep, fit into the bigger picture of learning?

Out of scope backlog

These questions were all interesting but ultimately out of scope for our focus on sleep & learning. They have been added to a backlog for future inquiry at a later time.

Improving sleep

These questions focus on improving sleep.

• How can I motivate myself to make sleep a priority?
• How does physical exercise fit into the picture - since cardio exercise is known to facilitate sleep, if timed appropriately, can it be used to establish a "virtuous cycle"? 
• What are the most significant "low hanging fruit" (i.e. low effort, high yield) interventions to improve sleep quality?
• How is sleep debt payable?

Sleep + rest

These questions focus on the relationship of rest and sleep. Rest is a superset of activities that includes, but is not limited to, sleep.

• How do restful activities impact sleep?
• What is the relationship between creativity and rest?
• What are some correlations between sleep, rest, and getting into the state of flow?

This is the catchall bucket for the remaining questions that didn't quite fit anywhere else.

• What correlation is there between one’s commitments and sleep?
• What impact does the existence of our market economy have on the quality of our sleep?
• What is the significance of social ritual and individual entrainment in establishing Circadian rhythms?
• Are there any long term consequences of consistently using melatonin sleep aid supplements?

Do any of these questions trigger any inquiries about sleep and learning for you? Drop me a note and let me know and I will add them to our inquiry or backlog.

Next up, we'll vote on the top 5 questions to actively focus on then start parsing academic articles for our active questions. I'll post another update after we have parsed our first dozen or so articles.

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7 Major Questions (and Answers) About Dreaming

Dreaming is a mysterious process — one that scientists are still figuring out..

Posted July 28, 2017 | Reviewed by Ekua Hagan

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As a sleep specialist, not a day goes by that I don't talk to someone about their dreams. My patients, my kids, the guy who sells me my morning coffee — everyone wants to know, “What do my dreams mean?” We’re all fascinated by dreams, and understandably so. Dreaming is a strange and mysterious process — one that we still don’t fully understand. Let’s take a closer look at the stuff of which dreams are made:

1. Why Do We Dream?

The why of dreaming is one of the great mysteries of sleep. There are many theories about why dreaming happens. Some think that dreaming has no specific underlying purpose, that our dreams might be a byproduct of other things going on in the brain during sleep. But many researchers studying sleep and dreams believe there is a primary purpose to our dreams. Some theories suggest that dreams are:

• A way to process memory and learning, moving memories from short-term to long-term storage and giving the brain a clean slate before the next waking day.
• A way to maintain emotional balance, by working through difficult, complicated, unsettling thoughts, emotions, and experiences.
• A different state of consciousness that unites past, present, and future — to process information from the first two, and prepare for the third.
• A kind of dress rehearsal for the brain, to prepare itself to face threats, dangers, and challenges in waking life.
• The brain responding to biochemical changes and electrical impulses that occur during sleep.

There may not be a single answer to why we dream. Our dreams might serve several purposes at once.

2. What Is a Dream? Do We All Dream?

At its most basic level, a dream is a collection of images, impressions, events, and emotions that we experience during sleep. Sometimes dreams have real storylines, with plots and characters that could be plucked from a movie screen. Other times dreams are more impressionistic, filled with emotions and visual imagery.

Typically, a person will spend two hours or more a night dreaming, experiencing somewhere between 3 to 6 dreams over the course of a night’s rest. Most dreams appear to last from 5 to 20 minutes.

I often hear people say, “I don’t dream.” You may not remember your dreams, but that doesn’t mean you’re not having them. Dreaming is a universal human experience. The truth is, the vast majority of dreams we experience will — for most of us — never be remembered. Memories of dreams usually fade very quickly after we awaken.

3. Why Can’t I Remember My Dreams?

The ability to recall dreams varies greatly from one individual to another. Some people regularly remember their dreams, while others may have only hazy recollections of themes or subjects — or no recollection at all.

There are a number of possible explanations for this. Studies suggest dream recall may be linked to patterns of activity in the brain. Our ability to recall our dreams may be influenced by interpersonal attachment styles — the way we tend to form bonds with other people in our lives.

Changing hormone levels throughout the night might also have a role in our ability to recall our dreams. During REM sleep — a time of active dreaming — levels of the hormone cortisol are high and may interfere with communication between areas of the brain that are involved in memory consolidation.

Our most active dreaming occurs during REM sleep. Adults spend roughly 25 percent of their sleep time in REM sleep, with longer periods of REM sleep occurring later in the night and in the early morning.

REM sleep is one part of the normal sleep cycle . In addition to REM sleep, sleep cycles contain three other stages. Dreaming can occur in every stage of sleep. Dreams during REM sleep appear to be more visually vivid, bizarre, and narratively driven than dreams during other sleep stages.

Have you ever woken and not been able to move or speak? This scary sleep phenomenon is indirectly related to dreaming. During REM sleep, the body goes into a state of temporary paralysis, a condition known as REM atonia. This appears to be the body’s way of protecting itself during dreaming. REM atonia keeps us from acting out physically in response to dreams. Think of some of the scary or exciting dreams you’ve experienced. Maybe you’ve been flying over a mountain range, or been chased by a masked intruder. Imagine if you could respond physically to these dream experiences? You might fly yourself right out of bed onto the floor.

It’s possible to awaken and still be in a state of sleep paralysis. This can be a really frightening experience, particularly the first time it happens. Waking in sleep paralysis is a sign that your body may not be making smooth transitions between the stages of sleep. This can be the result of stress, sleep deprivation, and other sleep disorders including narcolepsy, as well as a side effect of medications or over-consumption of drugs or alcohol .

4. Are There Different Kinds of Dreams?

Not all dreaming is the same. Dreaming runs the gamut of human experience. Our dreams encompass a dizzying range of emotions and events — and sometimes they’re just downright bizarre. Dreams can be funny, frightening, sad, and strange. Flying dreams can be euphoric, chasing dreams can be terrifying, forgot-to-study-for-my-exam dreams can be stressful .

There are several different types of dreams, including recurring dreams, wet dreams, and lucid dreams. (Nightmares are their own special kind of dream, which I’ll talk about in a separate article.) Let’s look at some distinct forms of dreaming.

Recurring dreams may contain more threatening and disturbing content than regular dreams. Research suggests there are links between recurring dreams and psychological distress in both adults and children.

Wet dreams are also called nocturnal emissions. These dreams involve ejaculation during sleep, usually accompanied by a sexual dream. Wet dreams may happen to boys during puberty , when testosterone starts to be produced in the body, and they are a normal part of healthy development.

Lucid dreams are an especially fascinating form of dream. In lucid dreams, the dreamer is aware of the fact that he or she is dreaming. Lucid dreamers often can even manipulate or control their dream as it unfolds. It seems that lucid dreaming is related to unusually elevated levels of brain activity. Lucid dreamers have shown significantly higher brain wave frequencies than non-lucid dreamers, as well as increased activity in parts of the frontal lobe of the brain. This area of the brain is deeply involved with our conscious awareness, a sense of self, as well as language and memory. Research into lucid dreams is not only shedding light on the mechanics of dreaming but also teaching us about the brain and about consciousness itself.

5. What Are the Most Common Dreams?

Examining and interpreting the content of dreams has fascinated people since ancient times. In ancient cultures, dream interpreters were sought-after and revered experts. Most of what we know today about dream content has been gathered using dream reports and questionnaires. Dream experiences vary widely, but some well-established themes occur among many dreamers across ages and cultures, including:

• School dreams (studying, taking tests)
• Being chased
• Sexual dreams
• Being attacked physically
• Dreaming of someone dead being alive, or someone alive being dead

New brain-imaging technology is allowing scientists to peek into dreaming minds like never before. Scientists are now analyzing brain activity during sleep to decode the content of dreams. A group of scientists in Japan has been able to predict dream content using MRI imaging with 70 percent accuracy. Scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison recently found that the areas of the brain used to perform tasks in our waking lives are also used for those tasks in dreams. One example: If a dream involves movement, the area of the brain used for movement perception becomes more active.

6. How Much of Dreaming Comes From My Daily Life?

Our waking lives seem to have an enormous influence over our dreams. A significant percentage of the people who appear in dreams are known to the dreamer. One study found more than 48 percent of dream characters were recognizable by name to dreamers. Another 35 percent of characters were identifiable to dreamers by their generic social role or relationship — as a friend, or a doctor or police officer, for example. Fewer than one-fifth of dream characters — 16 percent — were unrecognizable to dreamers.

A lot of our dreams contain content that’s related to autobiographical memories — memories about the self. Pregnant women dream more about pregnancy and childbirth. Hospice workers who act as caregivers to others dream about the experiences of caregiving and the people for whom they care. Musicians dream twice as often about music as non-musicians do.

There’s also some fascinating research that shows our capacity to dream beyond our waking experiences. Dream reports of people born paralyzed reveal that they walk, swim, and run in their dreams as often as people without paralysis. Dream reports of people born deaf indicate they often hear in their dreams.

Daily life experiences don’t always present themselves in dreams immediately. Sometimes an experience from life will filter through to a dream after several days or even a week. This delay is what’s known as dream lag. Scientists studying the relationship of memory to dreams have identified different types of memory that can be incorporated into dreams. Both very short-term memories (known as day-residue) and slightly longer-term memories (from a period of about a week) often present themselves in dreams. Dreaming of these events may actually be an important part of the memory consolidation process. The incorporation of memories into dreams isn’t necessarily seamless or even realistic. Rather, memories from waking life often appear in dreams in incomplete pieces, like shards of glass from a broken mirror.

As much as dreams may contain aspects of everyday, routine life, dreaming is also a state in which we can contend with extraordinary and difficult experiences. Another possible function of dreaming is processing and coming to terms with traumatic events. Grief , fear , loss, abandonment, even physical pain, are all emotions and experiences that often replay themselves in dreams. Studies of people who’ve experienced the loss of loved ones indicate that most of them dream about the deceased. Grieving people report several similar themes to these dreams, including:

• Recalling past experiences when loved ones were alive.
• Seeing loved ones happy and at peace.
• Receiving messages from loved ones.

The same study found that 60 percent of bereaved dreamers said their dreams exerted influence over their grieving process.

7. Can Dreaming Give Me a Performance Boost?

Dreams may help us solve problems and be creative. One study of musicians’ dreams found that not only did they dream frequently of music, but nearly half of the music they recalled from their dreams was unfamiliar and novel to them, suggesting that composing is possible in dreams. Paul McCartney famously credited the composition of "Yesterday” to a dream. Other artists, from the poet William Blake to the filmmaker Ingmar Bergman, have claimed to rely on dreams for creative inspiration and guidance. The golfer Jack Nicklaus said he sorted out a nagging problem with his golf swing in a dream.

Dreaming can help with at least some types of problem-solving. Lucid dreamers can use their dreams effectively to solve creative problems, according to research. Dreams seem to be fertile territory for influencing and enhancing our waking frame of mind.

Dreams can provide us with insight into what is preoccupying our minds and our hearts. Often healing, often mysterious, always fascinating, dreams can both shape us and show us who we are.

Michael J. Breus, Ph.D. , is a clinical psychologist and a diplomate of the American Board of Sleep Medicine. He is the author of Beauty Sleep.

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80 fascinating psychology research questions for your next project

Last updated

15 February 2024

Reviewed by

Brittany Ferri, PhD, OTR/L

Psychology research is essential for furthering our understanding of human behavior and improving the diagnosis and treatment of psychological conditions.

When psychologists know more about how different social and cultural factors influence how humans act, think, and feel, they can recommend improvements to practices in areas such as education, sport, healthcare, and law enforcement.

Below, you will find 80 research question examples across 16 branches of psychology. First, though, let’s look at some tips to help you select a suitable research topic.

• How to choose a good psychology research topic

Psychology has many branches that break down further into topics. Choosing a topic for your psychology research paper can be daunting because there are so many to choose from. It’s an important choice, as the topic you select will open up a range of questions to explore.

The tips below can help you find a psychology research topic that suits your skills and interests.

Tip #1: Select a topic that interests you

Passion and interest should fuel every research project. A topic that fascinates you will most likely interest others as well. Think about the questions you and others might have and decide on the issues that matter most. Draw on your own interests, but also keep your research topical and relevant to others.

Don’t limit yourself to a topic that you already know about. Instead, choose one that will make you want to know more and dig deeper. This will keep you motivated and excited about your research.

Tip #2: Choose a topic with a manageable scope

If your topic is too broad, you can get overwhelmed by the amount of information available and have trouble maintaining focus. On the other hand, you may find it difficult to find enough information if you choose a topic that is too narrow.

To determine if the topic is too broad or too narrow, start researching as early as possible. If you find there’s an overwhelming amount of research material, you’ll probably need to narrow the topic down. For example, instead of researching the general population, it might be easier to focus on a specific age group. Ask yourself what area of the general topic interests you most and focus on that.

If your scope is too narrow, try to generalize or focus on a larger related topic. Expand your search criteria or select additional databases for information. Consider if the topic is too new to have much information published on it as well.

Tip #3: Select a topic that will produce useful and relevant insights

Doing some preliminary research will reveal any existing research on the topic. If there is existing research, will you be able to produce new insights? You might need to focus on a different area or see if the existing research has limitations that you can overcome.

Bear in mind that finding new information from which to draw fresh insights may be impossible if your topic has been over-researched.

You’ll also need to consider whether your topic is relevant to current trends and needs. For example, researching psychology topics related to social media use may be highly relevant today.

• 80 psychology research topics and questions

Psychology is a broad subject with many branches and potential areas of study. Here are some of them:

Developmental

Personality

Experimental

Organizational

Educational

Neuropsychology

Controversial topics

Below we offer some suggestions on research topics and questions that can get you started. Keep in mind that these are not all-inclusive but should be personalized to fit the theme of your paper.

Social psychology research topics and questions

Social psychology has roots as far back as the 18th century. In simple terms, it’s the study of how behavior is influenced by the presence and behavior of others. It is the science of finding out who we are, who we think we are, and how our perceptions affect ourselves and others. It looks at personalities, relationships, and group behavior.

Here are some potential research questions and paper titles for this topic:

How does social media use impact perceptions of body image in male adolescents?

2. Is childhood bullying a risk factor for social anxiety in adults?

Is homophobia in individuals caused by genetic or environmental factors?

What is the most important psychological predictor of a person’s willingness to donate to charity?

Does a person’s height impact how other people perceive them? If so, how?

Cognitive psychology research questions

Cognitive psychology is the branch that focuses on the interactions of thinking, emotion, creativity, and problem-solving. It also explores the reasons humans think the way they do.

This topic involves exploring how people think by measuring intelligence, thoughts, and cognition. 

Here are some research question ideas:

6. Is there a link between chronic stress and memory function?

7. Can certain kinds of music trigger memories in people with memory loss?

8. Do remote meetings impact the efficacy of team decision-making?

9. Do word games and puzzles slow cognitive decline in adults over the age of 80?

10. Does watching television impact a child’s reading ability?

Developmental psychology research questions

Developmental psychology is the study of how humans grow and change over their lifespan. It usually focuses on the social, emotional, and physical development of babies and children, though it can apply to people of all ages. Developmental psychology is important for understanding how we learn, mature, and adapt to changes.

Here are some questions that might inspire your research:

11. Does grief accelerate the aging process?

12. How do parent–child attachment patterns influence the development of emotion regulation in teenagers?

13. Does bilingualism affect cognitive decline in adults over the age of 70?

14. How does the transition to adulthood impact decision-making abilities

15. How does early exposure to music impact mental health and well-being in school-aged children?

Personality psychology research questions

Personality psychology studies personalities, how they develop, their structures, and the processes that define them. It looks at intelligence, disposition, moral beliefs, thoughts, and reactions.

The goal of this branch of psychology is to scientifically interpret the way personality patterns manifest into an individual’s behaviors. Here are some example research questions:

16. Nature vs. nurture: Which impacts personality development the most?

17. The role of genetics on personality: Does an adopted child take on their biological parents’ personality traits?

18. How do personality traits influence leadership styles and effectiveness in organizational settings?

19. Is there a relationship between an individual’s personality and mental health?

20. Can a chronic illness affect your personality?

Abnormal psychology research questions

As the name suggests, abnormal psychology is a branch that focuses on abnormal behavior and psychopathology (the scientific study of mental illness or disorders).

Abnormal behavior can be challenging to define. Who decides what is “normal”? As such, psychologists in this area focus on the level of distress that certain behaviors may cause, although this typically involves studying mental health conditions such as depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and phobias.

Here are some questions to consider:

21. How does technology impact the development of social anxiety disorder?

22. What are the factors behind the rising incidence of eating disorders in adolescents?

23. Are mindfulness-based interventions effective in the treatment of PTSD?

24. Is there a connection between depression and gambling addiction?

25. Can physical trauma cause psychopathy?

Clinical psychology research questions

Clinical psychology deals with assessing and treating mental illness or abnormal or psychiatric behaviors. It differs from abnormal psychology in that it focuses more on treatments and clinical aspects, while abnormal psychology is more behavioral focused.

This is a specialty area that provides care and treatment for complex mental health conditions. This can include treatment, not only for individuals but for couples, families, and other groups. Clinical psychology also supports communities, conducts research, and offers training to promote mental health. This category is very broad, so there are lots of topics to explore.

Below are some example research questions to consider:

26. Do criminals require more specific therapies or interventions?

27. How effective are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in treating mental health disorders?

28. Are there any disadvantages to humanistic therapy?

29. Can group therapy be more beneficial than one-on-one therapy sessions?

30. What are the factors to consider when selecting the right treatment plan for patients with anxiety?

Experimental psychology research questions

Experimental psychology deals with studies that can prove or disprove a hypothesis. Psychologists in this field use scientific methods to collect data on basic psychological processes such as memory, cognition, and learning. They use this data to test the whys and hows of behavior and how outside factors influence its creation.

Areas of interest in this branch relate to perception, memory, emotion, and sensation. The below are example questions that could inspire your own research:

31. Do male or female parents/carers have a more calming influence on children?

32. Will your preference for a genre of music increase the more you listen to it?

33. What are the psychological effects of posting on social media vs. not posting?

34. How is productivity affected by social connection?

35. Is cheating contagious?

Organizational psychology research questions

Organizational psychology studies human behavior in the workplace. It is most frequently used to evaluate an employee, group, or a company’s organizational dynamics. Researchers aim to isolate issues and identify solutions.

This area of study can be beneficial to both employees and employers since the goal is to improve the overall work environment and experience. Researchers apply psychological principles and findings to recommend improvements in performance, communication, job satisfaction, and safety. 

Some potential research questions include the following:

36. How do different leadership styles affect employee morale?

37. Do longer lunch breaks boost employee productivity?

38. Is gender an antecedent to workplace stress?

39. What is the most effective way to promote work–life balance among employees?

40. How do different organizational structures impact the effectiveness of communication, decision-making, and productivity?

Forensic psychology research questions

Some questions to consider exploring in this branch of psychology are:

41. How does incarceration affect mental health?

42. Is childhood trauma a driver for criminal behavior during adulthood?

43. Are people with mental health conditions more likely to be victims of crimes?

44. What are the drivers of false memories, and how do they impact the justice system?

45. Is the media responsible for copycat crimes?

Educational psychology research questions

Educational psychology studies children in an educational setting. It covers topics like teaching methods, aptitude assessment, self-motivation, technology, and parental involvement.

Research in this field of psychology is vital for understanding and optimizing learning processes. It informs educators about cognitive development, learning styles, and effective teaching strategies.

Here are some example research questions:

46. Are different teaching styles more beneficial for children at different times of the day?

47. Can listening to classical music regularly increase a student’s test scores?

48. Is there a connection between sugar consumption and knowledge retention in students?

49. Does sleep duration and quality impact academic performance?

50. Does daily meditation at school influence students’ academic performance and mental health?

Sports psychology research question examples

Sport psychology aims to optimize physical performance and well-being in athletes by using cognitive and behavioral practices and interventions. Some methods include counseling, training, and clinical interventions.

Research in this area is important because it can improve team and individual performance, resilience, motivation, confidence, and overall well-being

Here are some research question ideas for you to consider:

51. How can a famous coach affect a team’s performance?

52. How can athletes control negative emotions in violent or high-contact sports?

53. How does using social media impact an athlete’s performance and well-being?

54. Can psychological interventions help with injury rehabilitation?

55. How can mindfulness practices boost sports performance?

Cultural psychology research question examples

The premise of this branch of psychology is that mind and culture are inseparable. In other words, people are shaped by their cultures, and their cultures are shaped by them. This can be a complex interaction.

Cultural psychology is vital as it explores how cultural context shapes individuals’ thoughts, behaviors, and perceptions. It provides insights into diverse perspectives, promoting cross-cultural understanding and reducing biases.

Here are some ideas that you might consider researching:

56. Are there cultural differences in how people perceive and deal with pain?

57. Are different cultures at increased risk of developing mental health conditions?

58. Are there cultural differences in coping strategies for stress?

59. Do our different cultures shape our personalities?

60. How does multi-generational culture influence family values and structure?

Health psychology research question examples

Health psychology is a crucial field of study. Understanding how psychological factors influence health behaviors, adherence to medical treatments, and overall wellness enables health experts to develop effective interventions and preventive measures, ultimately improving health outcomes.

Health psychology also aids in managing stress, promoting healthy behaviors, and optimizing mental health, fostering a holistic approach to well-being.

Here are five ideas to inspire research in this field:

61. How can health psychology interventions improve lifestyle behaviors to prevent cardiovascular diseases?

62. What role do social norms play in vaping among adolescents?

63. What role do personality traits play in the development and management of chronic pain conditions?

64. How do cultural beliefs and attitudes influence health-seeking behaviors in diverse populations?

65. What are the psychological factors influencing the adherence to preventive health behaviors, such as vaccination and regular screenings?

Neuropsychology research paper question examples

Neuropsychology research explores how a person’s cognition and behavior are related to their brain and nervous system. Researchers aim to advance the diagnosis and treatment of behavioral and cognitive effects of neurological disorders.

Researchers may work with children facing learning or developmental challenges, or with adults with declining cognitive abilities. They may also focus on injuries or illnesses of the brain, such as traumatic brain injuries, to determine the effect on cognitive and behavioral functions.

Neuropsychology informs diagnosis and treatment strategies for conditions such as dementia, traumatic brain injuries, and psychiatric disorders. Understanding the neural basis of behavior enhances our ability to optimize cognitive functioning, rehabilitate people with brain injuries, and improve patient care.

Here are some example research questions to consider:

66. How do neurotransmitter imbalances in specific brain regions contribute to mood disorders such as depression?

67. How can a traumatic brain injury affect memory?

68. What neural processes underlie attention deficits in people with ADHD?

69. Do medications affect the brain differently after a traumatic brain injury?

70. What are the behavioral effects of prolonged brain swelling?

Psychology of religion research question examples

The psychology of religion is a field that studies the interplay between belief systems, spirituality, and mental well-being. It explores the application of the psychological methods and interpretive frameworks of religious traditions and how they relate to both religious and non-religious people.

Psychology of religion research contributes to a holistic understanding of human experiences. It fosters cultural competence and guides therapeutic approaches that respect diverse spiritual beliefs.

Here are some example research questions in this field:

71. What impact does a religious upbringing have on a child’s self-esteem?

72. How do religious beliefs shape decision-making and perceptions of morality?

73. What is the impact of religious indoctrination?

74. Is there correlation between religious and mindfulness practices?

75. How does religious affiliation impact attitudes towards mental health treatment and help-seeking behaviors?

Controversial topics in psychology research question examples

Some psychology topics don’t fit into any of the subcategories above, but they may still be worthwhile topics to consider. These topics are the ones that spark interest, conversation, debate, and disagreement. They are often inspired by current issues and assess the validity of older research.

Consider some of these research question examples:

76. How does the rise in on-screen violence impact behavior in adolescents.

77. Should access to social media platforms be restricted in children under the age of 12 to improve mental health?

78. Are prescription mental health medications over-prescribed in older adults? If so, what are the effects of this?

79. Cognitive biases in AI: what are the implications for decision-making?

80. What are the psychological and ethical implications of using virtual reality in exposure therapy for treating trauma-related conditions?

• Inspiration for your next psychology research project

You can choose from a diverse range of research questions that intersect and overlap across various specialties.

From cognitive psychology to clinical studies, each inquiry contributes to a deeper understanding of the human mind and behavior. Importantly, the relevance of these questions transcends individual disciplines, as many findings offer insights applicable across multiple areas of study.

As health trends evolve and societal needs shift, new topics emerge, fueling continual exploration and discovery. Diving into this ever-changing and expanding area of study enables you to navigate the complexities of the human experience and pave the way for innovative solutions to the challenges of tomorrow.

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127 Sleep Essay Topics and Essay Examples

🏆 best sleep topic ideas & essay examples, 👍 good sleep topics to write about, 💡 interesting sleep topics, ❓ research questions about sleep.

• Problem of Sleep Deprivation This is due to disruption of the sleep cycle. Based on the negative effects of sleep deprivation, there is need to manage this disorder among Americans.
• Sleep Habits and Its Impact on Human Mind Activity The researchers paid attention to the quality of sleep and mentioned such characteristics as the time of going to bed and waking up, the duration, and quality of sleep. We will write a custom essay specifically for you by our professional experts 808 writers online Learn More
• Effects of Sleeping Disorders on Human On the other hand, Dyssomnia relates to sleep disorders that develop as a result of lack of adequate sleep. In some cases, antidepressants have been used to cure sleep disorders that are as a result […]
• Cross-Cultural Sleeping Arrangements in Children The aim of this paper is to study the different sleep patterns such as solitary or co sleeping in the United States of America and different cultures around the world.
• How Sleep Deprivation Affects College Students’ Academic Performance The study seeks to confirm the position of the hypothesis that sleep deprivation leads to poor academic performance in college students.
• The Effect of Sleep Quality and IQ on Memory Therefore, the major aim of sleep is to balance the energies in the body. However, the nature of the activity that an individual is exposed to determines the rate of memory capture.
• Insomnia: A Sleeping Disorder Type Causes of insomnia can be classified into two; factors contributing to acute insomnia and chronic insomnia. Chronic insomnia can be as a result of emotional stress.
• Sleep Apnea, the Heart and the Brain in the Elderly They should get the necessary treatment of heart diseases and neuromuscular disorders Be attentive to yourself and live a full life!
• Sleepwalking Through Life In this case, there is a large context of life that people can be part of which should be understood. All in all, there is a lot that can be done to ensure that people […]
• Sleep Deprivation Impacts on College Students Additional research in this field should involve the use of diverse categories of students to determine the effects that sleep deprivation would have on them.
• Sleep Stages and Disorders A more elaborate look into understanding sleep take a look at the two aspects of sleep which is the behavior observed during sleeping periods as well as the scientific explanation of the physiological processes involved […]
• The Importance of Sleeping and Dreaming Finally, I would not take this pill since I love seeing dreams and realize that this “miracle medicine” will cause too many negative consequences.
• Effects of Sleep Deprivation While scientists are at a loss explaining the varying sleeping habits of different animals, they do concede that sleep is crucial and a sleeping disorder may be detrimental to the health and productivity of a […]
• Psychology of Sleep: Article Study The field of sleep and sleep disorders has been an integral part of psychological investigations: a number of scientists find it necessary to contribute sleep education and offer the ideas which help people improve their […]
• Sleep and Its Implication on Animals This paper is set to synthesize the evolution sleep in animals, its benefits and the recent knowledge that is linked to this natural phenomenon of near unconsciousness.”A Third of Life” addressed what is sleep and […]
• Sleep and Sensory Reactivity in the School-Aged Children The interaction of these elements should be considered in therapies expressly designed to improve sleep disruptions or sensory processing difficulties in children as a possible negative determinant that may adversely affect children’s health and normal […]
• Stages of Sleep, Brain Waves, and the Neural Mechanisms of Sleep As sleep is extremely important for a person’s well-being, I believe it is essential to pay attention to the mechanisms of sleep and how they work.
• The Issue of Chronic Sleep Deprivation The quality of sleep significantly impacts the health and performance of the human body. These findings point to significant promise for the use of exercise in the treatment of sleep disorders, but a broader body […]
• Sleep-Wake, Eating, and Personality Disorders Treatment On the other hand, treatment with prazosin and mianserin was effective; for example, the drug mianserin benefits patients suffering from sleep disorders. Psychotherapy approaches like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia and Imaginary Rehearsal Therapy are […]
• How the Modern Life Has Affected Sleep Czeisler mentioned in the DW documentary about sleep: “The electric light to which we are exposed in terms of resetting our internal clock is like light on steroids”. That is why we should affect the […]
• Sleep and Meditation Can Predict an Individual’s Satisfaction With Life This aim of this study is to investigate the effects of quality sleep and mindfulness on life satisfaction. In a nutshell, life satisfaction depends on the quality of sleep and meditation.
• Water Consumption and Sleep Hygiene Practices First, I will discuss that safe and sufficient water facilitates the practice of hygiene and well-being and is a critical determining factor for health.
• Depression Associated With Sleep Disorders Y, Chang, C. Consequently, it directly affects the manifestation of obstructive sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and periodic limb movement disorder in people with depression.
• How Technology Affects Sleep in Adolescents The critique will focus on the various sections of the article, where the strengths and weaknesses of each are outlined and discussed. The title of the article excellently reflects the essence of the research.
• Sleep Disturbance in Children Any disorder that alters the craniofacial or pharyngeal anatomy predisposes the child to obstructive narcolepsy is considered a medical problem associated with sleep disturbances in children. Central Sleep Apnea is the repeated cessation or decrease […]
• ADHD and Problems With Sleep This is because of the activity of a person in the middle of the day and the condition around them. The downside of the study is that the study group included 52 adults with ADHD […]
• Solving the Sleep Problem through TQM Principles The initiative to address the lack of sleep among employees and consequently improve their performance and the quality of services requires teamwork optimization.
• Effects of Lullaby Music on Quality of Sleep in Adults With Insomnia Insomnia consists of deprivation of the duration and quality of sleep, which affects the psychological and physical condition of people. In addition, the main limitation may be the unreliability of the information provided by the […]
• Eat, Sleep, and Console: Narcotic Abstinence Syndrome in Infants The choice of the quantitative design is justified by the necessity to prove the superiority of the proposed solution to the one that is currently deployed as the alternative way of managing the needs of […]
• Hippocampus-Dependent Memories During Sleep The smell was chosen because it was not necessary to interrupt the integrity of the subjects’ sleep to introduce it into the experiment.
• The Influence of Sleep Deprivation on Human Body It contradicts living in harmony with God, as when the person is irritated and moody, it is more difficult to be virtuous and to be a source of joy for others.
• Programs in Family Sleep Institute She explained to me the sleep cycle of the child and the adult, how many hours my child is supposed to sleep, the bedtime routine, and the method that we had to adopt during the […]
• Sleeping Habits & Physical Health: Students’ Perception Using the survey as the data collection tool, the investigators state that most students do not have appropriate sleep habits, although they agree that their academic success and physical health suffer because of the lack […]
• Sleep Deprivation and Insomnia: Study Sources The topic of this audio record is a variety of problems with sleep and their impact on an organism. They proved the aforementioned conclusion and also paid attention to the impact of sleep deprivation on […]
• Sleep Problems Among Student-Athletes Despite the importance of the topic under study and the conclusions reached, the work raised additional questions and had some limitations.
• Excessive Sleepiness May Be Cause of Learning, Attention, and School Problems The information in the article “Excessive Sleepiness May Be Cause of Learning, Attention, and School Problems” by Calhoun and Fernandez-Mendoza is used to show that heavy daytime sleeping may be a cause of attention, learning, […]
• Sleep Hygiene Intervention Plan for Young Adults The main goals of this plan are to develop a list of guidelines for nurses on how they can offer a kind of educational program to their patients based on which young adults can understand […]
• Neurocognitive Consequences of Sleep Deprivation The CNS consists of the brain and the spinal cord while the PNS consists of all the endings of the nerve extensions in all organs forming the web that extends throughout the entire organ.
• Sleepiness Level and Degree: Research Instruments A sum ranging from 0 to 24 of the score on the eight items makes the total score of the ESS.
• Evolutionary Biology: Sleep Patterns in Mammals This synthesis addresses the question of the origin of sleep in mammals and traces this phenomenon by studying the evolution of the mammalian brain and suggesting possible external factors that affect sleep patterns.
• “Childbirth Fear and Sleep Deprivation in Pregnant Women” by Hall To further show that the information used is current, the authors have used the APA style of referencing which demand the naming of the author as well as the year of publication of the article/book […]
• African Sleeping Sickness Using the various forms of detection and diagnosis it was discovered that African sleeping sickness is a major problem in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• The Use of Sleephormone in Children With Neuro-Developmental Disorders For the better management of the data that are planned to be retrieved from the clinical trial procedures, the following list of the definitions and acronyms used in the trial process is given.
• Sleep Deprivation and Learning at University It is a widely known fact that numerous people face the problem of lack of sleep. Second, sleeping is essential for increasing the productivity of students in the context of learning.
• Communication Between Sleep, Behavior and Obesity The purpose of the study seeks to evaluate the association between nighttime media use with sleep behaviors and variation in weight status for first-semester college students.
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Heart Diseases In children with Down syndrome, incidence rates of hypertension and sleepiness are high, and the problem is compounded in the presence of OSA.
• Sleep is a Vital Stage of a Day Cycle in Humans During the first stage of sleep, the EEG shifts to theta waves, with a frequency of 4 7 Hz. There are numerous sleep disorders, which can affect the well-being of a person.
• “The Effect of Nursing Quality Improvement and Mobile Health Interventions on Infant Sleep Practices” by Moon The following analysis is related to the article, “The effect of nursing quality improvement and mobile health interventions on infant sleep practices” by Moon et al.
• Sleep Deprivation: Biopsychology and Health Psychology Another theory that has been proposed in relation to sleep is the Circadian theory which suggests that sleep evolved as a mechanism to fit organisms into the light dark cycle of the world.
• Study of the Sleeping Process The paper entails a comprehensive analysis of the sleeping process in addition to evaluating the factors that affect the sleeping process.
• Sleep Disorders: Sleep Deprivation of the Public Safety Officers The effects of sleep disorders and fatigue on public safety officers is a social issue that needs to be addressed with more vigor and urgency so that the key issues and factors that are salient […]
• Sleep, Satisfaction With Life and Cognitive Function Sleep is the state of the mind involving temporary loss of consciousness leading to the resting of the mind. Sleep is one of the most important requirements in individuals so as to ensure the well-being […]
• Sleep Versus Social Demands in Students The effects of has been exhibited more greatly in animals through studies and all animals have been shown to sleep in different forms.
• Sleep Deprivation: Personal Experiment As I had been perplexed, I did not take a step of reporting the matter to the police neither did I inform my neighbors.
• Sleep Patterns and Memory Performance of Children The article presents the essence, the methods and the results of the experiment which had to show the influence of TV and computer games on German children’s sleep.
• Recuperative Versus Circadian Theory of Sleep The Recuperative theory of sleep is based on the premise that humans require sleep to rejuvenate and recoup spent energy during the waking period.
• Biology. Adolescent Sleep Pattern The habit of sleep is very individual specific therefore a study of the pattern of sleep of a group needs to be evaluated to get an understating of the pattern of sleep.
• Non- and Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Non REM sleep represents 75% of sleep duration and occurs in four stages and REM sleep represents stage 5 of sleep.
• Main Information about Sleeping Disorders In the introduction part the paper provides an overview of sleep and sleep disorders. This led to the conclusion that instead of being a quite and peaceful period of rest and resuscitation as everyone would […]
• Memory Consolidation and Reconsolidation After Sleep The memory consolidation of the visual skill tasks is related to the REM sleep and the short wave component of the NREM.
• Sleep Disorders: Narcolepsy, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Insomnia An important aspect of the pathogenesis is the autoimmune lesion of the orexin neurons of the hypothalamus, which leads to a decrease in the level of hypocretin-1.
• Sleeping Sickness Transmission and Control Measures Most of the cases of sleeping sickness are usually recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, northern parts of Uganda, Sudan, Angola, Zambia, Uganda, Tanzania, and Malawi.
• Blue Light Effect on Human Sleep The introduction is comprised of a thesis statement and a description of the critical thoughts of the paper. At the end of the paper, recommendations on how to reduce the adversarial effect of the blue […]
• Electronic Devices Use and Sleep in US Adolescents During the process of data collection, the authors discovered that most of the participants tended to go to bed very late, which affected the quality of their sleep and their ability to normally function over […]
• The Role of Sleep in Humans’ Well-Being Each of the speakers in the videos focuses on a different characteristic of sleep, but all of them agree that without enough sleep, one does not perform to the fullest potential.
• Sleep Helps to Repair Damaged DNA in Neurons The researchers found that the chromosomes in the fish’s neurons would often change shape while their owners slept, enabling the repair of the damage accumulated in periods of activity.
• Co-Sleeping Impact on Child Development At the same time, it is crucial to pay attention to the phases of sleep and the cycles of awakening. It will help to facilitate the process of sleep in the future and eliminate any […]
• Adolescent Sleep and the Impact of Technology Use Particularly, the authors of the study explain why there is the need to know the answer to the question by providing a profound background to the case and stating that innovative technology has a profound […]
• Sleeping Patterns Within Infants Infant A is put to sleep in the bassinet, and the parents use the sleeping bag in order to make the infant’s sleep more comfortable.
• Sleep Deprivation: Research Methods The purpose of the research will be to determine sleep deprivation, what causes it, the effect, and why sleep is important.
• Coffee Effects on Sleeping Patterns: Experiment Consumption of coffee before going to bed will cause individuals to have difficulty falling asleep The amount of coffee the subjects drink before going to bed The time after going to bed that subjects fall […]
• Sleep Disruptions in Healthcare Professionals First of all, the sleep disruption may lead to a lack of coordination in the team because some members would be fatigued during the working hours, which would interfere with their functioning and concentration in […]
• Sleep May Be Nature’s Time Management Tool by Carey The author states that no one knows why sleep exists therefore setting the context for the article in which she advances the numerous theories that are advanced as to the role that sleep plays.
• Physical Activity and Sleep Health in Adults In the introduction to the analysed study, a substantial scientific background for the problem of improving physical activity and sleep in adults is presented.
• Sleep-Disordered Breathing and Acute Ischemic Stroke In this case study, the investigator focused on ischemic stroke, one of the most common types of stroke in the world.
• Insomnia and Narcolepsy: Sleeping Disorders Besides, it was established that people with insomnia are inclined to overestimate the negative effect of sleeping disorder and underestimate the total time of sleep.
• Sleep Patterns’ Impact on Academic Performance Because some university classes begin as early as 7 o’clock in the morning and finish in the evening, the only option for such students is to reduce the length of night-time sleep in order to […]
• Prevalence of Sleep Disorders among Medical Students Nightmares and dreams arise in the course of REM sleep as it is linked to desynchronized and quick brain waves, deferral of homeostasis, and failure of muscular tonus.
• Emotions Clusters and Sleep Failure Earlier critics had argued that PANAS was not suitable for children, and this led to the development of specific PANAS-C for children.
• Sleep Deprivation and Specific Emotions The purpose of this study is to develop an understanding of the relationship between sleep deprivation and emotional behaviors. The study looks to create a link between the findings of past researches on the emotional […]
• Sleep Disturbance, Depression, Anxiety Correlation The above imply that many questions are still unanswered with respect to the kinds of sleep complaints affecting undergraduates and the impact on their psychological health.
• Relationship Between Depression and Sleep Disturbance It was emphasized that persistent disturbance, its severity, and the intermittent nature of the sleep were not associated with depression and its recurrence in the following years. The sleeping disturbance is a risk factor that […]
• Sleep and Psychopathology Relationships – Psychology Generally, available evidence shows that feelings of negative emotions such as anxiety are characterized by the dysfunction in cognitive and interpersonal spheres.
• Sleep Disorder Consequences on the Immune System Consequently, the research question for this paper is: what are the consequences of sleep disorder on the immune system? The primary goal of the study is to determine the effects of sleep disorder on the […]
• Importance of Sleep – Psychology Precisely, most of the organs of the body are at rest during sleep. It is during sleep that the body encodes the information it obtains during the day into the memory.
• Dream and Sleep Cycle Dreams occur in any of the phases of sleep, nonetheless, the most concise, clear, vivid and memorable dreams are observed in the last phase of sleep (known as the rapid eye movement REM sleep.
• Changes of Sleep in the Course of One Night Furthermore, voltage generated by eye rotation in their sockets and electrical activities of the muscles all help in the study of the cycles of sleep in the course of one night.
• Relationship Between Sleep and Depression in Adolescence Using SPSS for data analysis, the results indicate the presence of a correlation between elements of depression and sleep duration and quality.
• Ethical Issues in Treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea with Exercise Independently The approaches should ensure that necessary preventive and curative measures are put in place to facilitate the process of eradicating the disease that is causing immense sleep related complications.
• The Eight Hour Dilemma: Sleeping Time Reduction. When a Single Hour Makes a Difference While reducing the amount of sleeping hours to seven and less can possibly lead to sleep deprivation and the further changes for the worse in a human body, eight hours are no longer the borderline […]
• Infant Sleep Disturbance (ISD) The uniqueness of this study stems from the fact that it would provide a clear understanding of the most effective intervention/basis for physicians and parents to pursue in the management of sleep disorders among infants […]
• Underlying Issues Associated with Sleep Disorders and Stress Of fundamental importance to this research paper is the realization that the amount of sleep that an individual gets is one of the internal factors that influence his or her own capacity to handle stress.
• The Consequences of Poor Sleep Conducting a research devoted to human sleep habits in children and feeling the affect on their confidence as adults, the existing data should be evaluated and the conclusions are to be drawn in the sphere […]
• The Role of Melatonin in Determining the Sleep-Wake Cycle Melatonin plays a significant role in the circadian control of sleep as well as in restraining the development of malignant cells.
• The Phantom Menace of Sleep-Deprived Doctors This is one of the problems that should be addressed by hospital administrators. Therefore, it is vital to develop strategies that can improve the work of medical institutions.
• The Biological Basis of Sleep The authors suggest that it needs more accurate measurement of sleep and wake pattern by the use of the electrooculogram, the recording of the movement of the eye, EEG and electromyogram, the recording of the […]
• Sleep and Dreams: How Do They Work? During sleep, the brain is at rest while the rest of the body system is in active state. Thus, to prevent most of the body disorders in human both psychiatrists and health experts recommend sleep.
• Sleep Disorders with Children and Adolescences This study is important in terms of understanding of the effectives of empirical and theoretical research in the field and attracting the scientist’s attention to the problem so that appropriate and effective treatment to be […]
• Sleep Process Research There are said to have five sleep stages, which are divided in to two: the rapid eye movement and the non rapid eye movement during which the dreams occur.
• A Day in the Sleep Clinic: Culture and Health The third aspect of the PEN-3 Model looks at the cultural issues and health beliefs. For instance, the Sudanese family belief in superstition may not affect the health outcome in the hands of the doctor.
• Using Depressants During Sleep Time The paper also holds up the notion that, today it is important to control the sleeping patterns, to conform to the lifestyle demands. The drugs are mainly used generally to reduce the sleep delays, thus […]
• Sleep Improves Memory It is possible to replace a traumatic memory with a pleasant one then take a brief moment of sleep to reinforce the pleasant memory.
• How Much Sleep Do You Need by Age?
• What Is an Sleep?
• What Is the Purpose of Sleep?
• What Is Good Sleep?
• Why Is Sleep Important for Health?
• What Happens if We Don’t Sleep?
• Why Is It Called Sleep?
• What Causes Lack of Sleep?
• What Age Gets the Most Sleep?
• What Is the Most Healthy Time to Wake Up?
• Why Do Older People Need Less Sleep?
• How Much Sleep Is Healthy?
• What Are Interesting Facts About Sleep?
• What Happens During Sleep?
• Why Should We Drink Water Before Sleeping?
• How to Fall Asleep Fast Within 5 Minutes?
• Which Foods Make Sleepy?
• What to Drink to Sleep Faster?
• What Are the Sleep Tricks?
• What Part of the Brain Causes Sleep?
• How Can I Get Better Sleep?
• Which Oil Helps You Sleep?
• Does Warm Milk Help You Sleep?
• How Can I Relax When I Can’t Sleep?
• At What Time Is the Body Ready for Sleep?
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13 Controversial Questions About Sleep, Answered and Finally Put To Rest

While we'll continue to snuggle sleep robots  and  crash on smart mattresses in the name of researching questions about sleep, we wanted to address what we've learned to this point. Below, find 13 of the most common (and, in some cases, bizarre) questions about sleep, investigated and answered.

Below, get answers to 13 of the most controversial questions about sleep.

1. can you work in your bed and still get a good night's sleep.

If you've transitioned fully to the WFH life during the pandemic, this question might be weighing on your mind because you, quite simply, may not have many options of where you can work. Despite changing time, sleep experts still frown upon mixing business with pleasure in such a way.

"I’m not a huge fan of lingering in bed overall, since spending more time in bed can actually worsen insomnia for some people,"  Shelby Harris, PsyD , sleep psychologist and author of  The Women’s Guide to Overcoming Insomnia , previously told Well+Good . "The bed is for sleep and sex."

"I’m not a huge fan of lingering in bed overall, since spending more time in bed can actually worsen insomnia for some people. The bed is for sleep and sex." —Shelby Harris, PsyD, sleep psychologist

But if  working in your bedroom  is unavoidable, a few things can help: decluttering your room, putting your devices on snooze, and setting strong boundaries between work hours and sleep hours.

Verdict: You can make it work, but it isn't advised.

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2. Do you need less sleep as you get older?

There's a kernel of truth in this tidbit that your nana may or may not humble brag about all the time. In the journey from newborn baby to senior, you'll typically require less sleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation , a baby requires 14 to 17 daily hours of zzz's, but by the time you're 65+, you might need more like seven to nine hours. But that's not because, like, you have all this energy.

"As we age, we tend to have less deep sleep, with more  broken sleep and awakenings throughout the night," Dr. Harris says. "Naps and dozing occur more throughout the day as well. When taken into account, an average older adult should get approximately the same amount of sleep as [they] did normally before aging, maybe half an hour to an hour less. And this is because the new, extra broken sleep in the middle of the night is made up for by those little naps."

Verdict: Technically yes, but your sleep quality can get shoddier.

3. When should you stop drinking coffeeto sleep soundly at night?

According to Dan Reardon, MD, the CEO and co-founder of FitnessGenes who has studied how coffee affects people, that really all depends on your metabolism. "The speed at which you metabolize caffeine creates a natural cut off point through the day," he previously told Well+Good . "Whereas a fast metabolizer might clear 100-200 milligrams—what’s in a typical cup of coffee—in just a few hours, it might take a slow metabolizer 12-hours-plus, which could impact sleep."

For slow coffee metabolizers, Dr. Reardon suggests a cut-off time between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m., because it can take your body a full eight hours to process said caffeine burst. But even if it goes right through your system, fast metabolizers should have their last cup no later than 5 p.m., when it's time to start prepping for bed anyway.

Verdict: Pay attention to how you process coffee, but 5 p.m. is an absolute deadline for everyone.

4. Does counting sheep actually work?

Counting sheep is perhaps the original sleep hack many of us learned as children, and it's essentially just the meditative practice of "susokukan," or "observing the breath with numbers." "Counting sheep can help to calm the mind because it gives you a specific and neutral focus, which allows the busy, active mind to settle down," meditation teacher Stephen Sokoler and founder and CEO of Journey Meditation previously told Well+Good.

To that end, it doesn't have to be sheep! It could be goats, it could be pigs, it could be water buffalo, it could be elephants, it could be flamingos. Your brain doesn't give a damn.

Verdict: It could, and don't be afraid to switch it up with other members of the animal kingdom.

5. Can you sleep well with the light on?

I'm actually  afraid of the dark , and I do sleep with the light on...but not well. That's because, as the American Medical Association points out, blue or white nighttime light suppresses melatonin release and interrupts circadian biological rhythms. Also, the dark just helps us know that it's bedtime, so keeping your lamps on does not help.

That being said, there's research that supports that  red light will allow you to sleep soundly, albeit not as well as straight darkness. So if you need a night light, lean toward warmer shades always.

Verdict: Maybe, so long as you have the right (read: red) light.

6. How many days do you feel sleepy after Daylight Saving Time?

Um, because it feels like forever. Though this is specifically a twice-a-year-problem in most regions of the country, rest assured that it takes the body only five to seven days to adjust to the new time, lighting, and alarms post-Daylight Saving Time . Taking day walks or doing light aerobics for 20 to 30 minutes (but  not  close to bed) can help expedite the process.

Verdict: You'll probably feel on track in a week, max.

7. Does the full moon mess with your sleep?

According to a sleep study analyzing a million nights of sleep, on nights of the full moon , people required 9 percent more time to fall asleep, and clocked 7 percent less deep sleep. And according to Quentin Soulet de Brugiere, co-founder and CTO of  Dreem , the cultural association of the moon evoking  bad behavior  is what might impact our sleep.

"I have clients who tell me they feel the effect of full moons in relation to not being able to sleep, in particular," astrologer Courtney O’Reilly  previously told Well+Good. "Some also say they feel a little drained or depleted."

Verdict: A little, so just get the lavender oil flowing on those wild, restless nights.

8. Does sleeping naked help you sleep?

Research tends to support that sleeping nude cools the body down, and lower temps are optimum for a good night's rest. And from my personal experience, doing so will also make you feel more confident !

Verdict: It can, but definitely make sure to  wash your sheets  regularly.

9. Is it bad if your partner doesn’t want to spoon while sleeping?

It's may be typical for couples to cuddle up during the honeymoon phase, but a lot of people drift apart over time...to the other side of the bed. And a lot of people (especially light sleepers!) just like their own space. None of this means any specific sleep position  is a sign of a doomed relationship. "One of the basic things about those positions is that they’re just not that comfortable for a long period of time, so we would never think of them as sleeping positions," body-language expert and co-author  365 Ways to Get a Good Night’s Sleep   Maryann Karinch  previously told Well+Good. "We would think of them as ‘waking-up positions’ or ‘going-to-bed positions.’"

"One of the basic things about [cuddling] positions is that they’re just not that comfortable for a long period of time, so we would never think of them as sleeping positions." —body-language expert Maryann Karinch

In fact, if you're facing away from one another, back-to-back, that could signify a strong, secure independent relationship. "You’re very secure back-to-back," Karinch says. "You’re saying, ‘Hey, I feel good with you.’"

Verdict: Chill, you're going to be fine.

10. Can hypnosis help you sleep?

The  National Sleep Foundation  considers auditory hypnosis as a helpful tool for falling asleep, as does Well+Good writer  Allie Flinn . Likewise, a small  2014 study from the University of Zurich, Switzerland found that "young, healthy, suggestible females" who listened to audio hypnosis before sleeping had 80 percent more slow-wave sleep. So to the point of "suggestible," if you think hypnosis isn't a thing, this probably isn't for you, my friend.

Verdict: Worth a shot if you believe in it.

11. Are sleep and rest the same?

Rest, here, is loosely defined as not sleep—not even napping, just lying in bed and staring at the window having an existential crisis (or whatever). It's basically not being engaged in anything mentally or physically, and while that can be good for hitting your reset button , it ain't the same as sleep.

"There are restorative and regenerative properties of sleep that don’t happen during during any other state,"  Elliott Exar, MD , a sleep specialist with John Hopkins Medicine, previously told Well+Good.

Verdict: No, but feel free to embrace some Niksen nonetheless.

12. Can orgasming help you fall asleep?

“When you have an orgasm, you release a cocktail of hormones that helps you feel relaxed and sleep better,” Rebecca Alvarez Story , sexologist and founder of  Bloomi   previously told Well+Good . “Think of this cocktail as the body’s natural sleep remedy.” This includes endorphins, vasopressin, oxytocin, norepinephrine, serotonin, and prolactin. The cuddle hormone in particular has an important role in this.

"During sexual arousal, levels of oxytocin can increase significantly, and this can have a calming effect on the mind and body and induce a restful sleep,” sexologist Jess O’Reilly, PhD , host of the  @SexWithDrJess Podcast , told Well+Good. "Some research suggests that the process of quashing sexual desire that occurs post-orgasm can result in slumber inducing chemicals that promote some drowsiness."

Verdict: Best. Sleep Hack. Ever.

13. What's the best noise for sleep?

White noise ?  Pink noise ?  Brown noise ?

Verdict: Brown noise, don't @ us.

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Sleep resets brain connections -- but only for first few hours

During sleep, the brain weakens the new connections between neurons that had been forged while awake -- but only during the first half of a night's sleep, according to a new study in fish by UCL scientists.

The researchers say their findings, published in Nature , provide insight into the role of sleep, but still leave an open question around what function the latter half of a night's sleep serves.

The researchers say the study supports the Synaptic Homeostasis Hypothesis, a key theory on the purpose of sleep which proposes that sleeping acts as a reset for the brain.

Lead author Professor Jason Rihel (UCL Cell & Developmental Biology) said: "When we are awake, the connections between brain cells get stronger and more complex. If this activity were to continue unabated, it would be energetically unsustainable. Too many active connections between brain cells could prevent new connections from being made the following day.

"While the function of sleep remains mysterious, it may be serving as an 'off-line' period when those connections can be weakened across the brain, in preparation for us to learn new things the following day."

For the study, the scientists used optically translucent zebrafish, with genes enabling synapses (structures that communicate between brain cells) to be easily imaged. The research team monitored the fish over several sleep-wake cycles.

The researchers found that brain cells gain more connections during waking hours, and then lose them during sleep. They found that this was dependent on how much sleep pressure (need for sleep) the animal had built up before being allowed to rest; if the scientists deprived the fish from sleeping for a few extra hours, the connections continued to increase until the animal was able to sleep.

Professor Rihel added: "If the patterns we observed hold true in humans, our findings suggest that this remodelling of synapses might be less effective during a mid-day nap, when sleep pressure is still low, rather than at night, when we really need the sleep."

The researchers also found that these rearrangements of connections between neurons mostly happened in the first half of the animal's nightly sleep. This mirrors the pattern of slow-wave activity, which is part of the sleep cycle that is strongest at the beginning of the night.

First author Dr Anya Suppermpool (UCL Cell & Developmental Biology and UCL Ear Institute) said: "Our findings add weight to the theory that sleep serves to dampen connections within the brain, preparing for more learning and new connections again the next day. But our study doesn't tell us anything about what happens in the second half of the night. There are other theories around sleep being a time for clearance of waste in the brain, or repair for damaged cells -- perhaps other functions kick in for the second half of the night."

• Sleep Disorders
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea
• Disorders and Syndromes
• Brain-Computer Interfaces
• Child Development
• Brain Injury
• Neuroscience
• Rapid eye movement
• Delayed sleep phase syndrome
• Night terror
• Circadian rhythm sleep disorder
• Sleep deprivation
• Sleep disorder
• Narcolepsy (sleep disorder)

Story Source:

Materials provided by University College London . Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference :

• Anya Suppermpool, Declan G. Lyons, Elizabeth Broom, Jason Rihel. Sleep pressure modulates single-neuron synapse number in zebrafish . Nature , 2024; DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07367-3

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Scientists May Have Solved First Half of Sleep Mystery

N euroscientists have revealed new details about how our brains are reset when we sleep. But their findings open new questions about the role of sleep in the second half of the night.

Getting enough sleep is essential for our mental and physical well-being, but scientists are only just beginning to figure out what is happening in our brains when we sleep. Many neuroscientists agree that sleep plays an important role in "resetting" our brains at the end of the day, and new research from University College London has revealed exciting neurological data to support this theory.

"When we are awake, the connections between brain cells get stronger and more complex," Jason Rihel, a professor in cellular and developmental biology at UCL and the lead author on the study, said in a statement. "If this activity were to continue unabated, it would be energetically unsustainable. Too many active connections between brain cells could prevent new connections from being made the following day.

"While the function of sleep remains mysterious, it may be serving as an 'off-line' period when those connections can be weakened across the brain, in preparation for us to learn new things the following day."

In their new study, published in the journal Nature , Rihel and his team used specially designed zebrafish to study the activity of brain cells during the sleep-wake cycle. Specifically, they were interested in the connections between the brain cells, called synapses, which allow information to be passed from one cell to another.

After several sleep-wake cycles, the team saw that the brain cells consistently gained more connections during the waking hours, and lost them during sleep. However, these rearrangements mostly happened in the first half of the animal's nightly sleep session.

"Our findings add weight to the theory that sleep serves to dampen connections within the brain, preparing for more learning and new connections again the next day," first author Anya Suppermpool said in a statement. "But our study doesn't tell us anything about what happens in the second half of the night."

So why is it important that we get our full eight hours?

"There are other theories around sleep being a time for clearance of waste in the brain, or repair for damaged cells—perhaps other functions kick in for the second half of the night," Suppermpool said.

More studies are needed to confirm these results in humans, but this one offers exciting insights into the neuroscience of sleep and brings us one step closer to understanding why it's so important to get your ZZZs.

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Americans are sleeping more than ever. See how you compare.

It wasn’t just you who rolled over and hit the snooze button this morning. Americans are now sleeping more than at any point in the past two decades, a trend that accelerated during the pandemic, a Washington Post analysis found.

An individual in the United States gained 10 minutes of sleep per day, on average, between 2019 and 2022, according to data from the American Time Use Survey. That’s a meaningful increase, even at the individual level, sleep experts said. But those extra moments of counting sheep weren’t evenly shared. The biggest sleep gains were seen in younger adults between the ages of 25 and 34, men of all ages and people without children.

Here’s how you sleep compared to your peers

Yesterday you went to bed at..., and woke up at….

That’s 8 hours . Now tell us more about you.

How old are you?

How do you identify.

Note: The American Time Use survey data does not include a category for non-binary individuals.

Hours of sleep for women and men 35 to 44 years old , by percentile

0 is the median amount of sleep for a woman your age.

Sleep time includes the rare nap, dozing off, or tossing and turning.

Time-use data is captured through an annual survey from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Census Bureau asking a wide range of Americans a simple question: In the last 24 hours, how did you spend your day?

Each minute of the day is then coded for a specific activity, with “sleep” covering the rare nap, dozing off or falling asleep.

But the gold standard for measuring sleep is polysomnography , which captures brain activity, heart rate, breathing and blood oxygen levels. Time-use data doesn’t capture sleep with that level of precision, so time-use data appears to overestimate physiological sleep by about an hour. But it still provides a consistent and robust look at sleep trends across populations, and some long-standing trends are clear:

• Teenagers and young adults, between 15 and 24 years old, tend to get more sleep than older people, regardless of the day of the week.
• Women tend to sleep more than men.
• People generally sleep more on weekends or holidays than on weekdays.
• Men and women between the ages of 35 and 54 — prime parenting ages — tend to get the least sleep.

In recent years, the data has also started revealing more surprising trends:

• Young adults, ages 25 to 34, have started to get much more sleep, with the gap between them and those younger than them narrowing, especially among men. This group of men got almost as much sleep as 15- to 24-year-old men on weekends in 2022, compared with getting about 50 minutes less sleep than them in 2010.
• Between 2019 and 2022, men have gained about 16 minutes more sleep per night, compared with a nine-minute increase for women.

Sleep has increased over time

Data for 2020 is not comparable to other years.

• In 2022, people without children spent roughly 25 minutes more time sleeping than they did in 2003, with that increase being especially pronounced for women without children. Between 2019 and 2022, women without children gained about 13 minutes of sleep per night compared with just five minutes for men without children.
• That jump has also created a new sleep gap between women with and without children. The two groups had gotten similar amounts of sleep since 2003. But in 2022, women with children under 6 got 13.2 fewer minutes of sleep compared with those with no children.
• Men with children have consistently gotten about a half-hour less sleep than men without children, based on data collected since 2003.

Parents continue to get less sleep

Remote work is driving gains in sleep time

The sleep time gains by Americans could be because of the increase in remote work post-pandemic, with over a third of workers now doing their jobs at home.

People with full-time jobs woke up about 35 minutes later on work-from-home days than on-site days in 2020 and 2021, according to a new paper , on which Sabrina Wulff Pabilonia , a research economist at the Bureau of Labor Statistics who studies time-use and productivity, was a co-author.

Before the pandemic, the difference in wake-up times between work-from-home and on-site days was much more pronounced for women than for men — 43 minutes compared with 19 minutes — but that gender difference equalized during 2020 and 2021 — 37 minutes compared with 34 minutes — Pabilonia said.

Work is the “No. 1 sleep killer,” followed by traveling, the vast majority of which is commuting to and from work, said Mathias Basner , a sleep researcher and professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine.

That working and commuting time “has to come out of sleep, because people also aren’t willing to sacrifice leisure time and socializing and also just responsibilities outside of work,” Basner said. “People are just trading the sleep time for those other waking activities.”

The reduction in commuting time could also help people get to bed earlier. Bedtimes started to get earlier even before the pandemic, with that trend continuing through 2022, Pabilonia said.

Sleep quality is as important as quantity

Most of us are getting more sleep but it may not mean quality rest.

For sleep to be beneficial, it has to be both long enough — the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends at least seven hours per night for adults — and of high quality.

Sleep quality is “determined by continuous bouts of uninterrupted sleep,” Basner said. He compared sleeping continuously through the different cycles of sleep to running a washing machine. If you don’t go through the full cycles of sleep you won’t be “fully recuperated,” much like how if you stop your washing machine in the middle of a cycle, your laundry won’t be clean.

The National Institutes of Health estimates that at least 50 million Americans — more than 1 in 7 — struggle with some kind of sleep disorder, including sleep apneas. Getting too little high-quality sleep is linked to serious health problems such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and dementia.

The time-use data also indicates that many Americans still struggle with “sleeplessness,” or struggling to stay or fall asleep — for an average of 70 minutes per day over the past few years.

With sleep-tracking devices providing people with a lot of data about their sleep habits, they can also overly fixate on the feedback about their sleep, making them anxious and unable to rest, Basner said.

“People are more aware that sleep is important,” he said. “But some of these programs give you advice and say, ‘Hey you’re not getting enough sleep’ up to the point where we’re driving people into insomnia.”

About this story

Art direction and design by Chelsea Conrad. Additional design and development by Garland Potts. Design editing by Christian Font. Graphics editing by Kate Rabinowitz. Editing by Meghan Hoyer and Anjuman Ali. Copy editing by Thomas Heleba.