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Sleep duration is associated with brain structure and cognitive performance

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81–90 of 336 posts

Re: Sleep duration is associated with brain structure and cognitive performance

#81
post #66

„Taken together, our results suggest that cognition and white matter integrity are not only affected by experimental sleep deprivation but are also associated with natural differences in habitual sleep duration. The findings of the present study are in line with other studies, which showed that cognitive performance and white matter are associated with sleep duration.„ On the other hand, I often hear stories of top-p…

This is a good recap of basic sleep hygiene.

Re: Sleep duration is associated with brain structure and cognitive performance

#82

I have a very weird problem/issue, maybe someone can help. In my school days I used to maintain a dream diary, where I would note down every dream I had after waking up. I stopped doing that when I got into college, but dreams never stopped and I never stopped analysing and trying to remember the dreams. Fast forward to present time (10 years from school), whenever I want to wake up i.e. after 6-7 hours of sleep I ca…

You need more sleep.

That's it. That's the story. There's nothing wrong with you. Trying to set additional alarms, or worrying about how you used to record your dreams... Not relevant. Your body isn't done resting. Stop interrupting it before its done, and you'll find that 8ish hours of uninterrupted sleep is more restful than the quasi-sleep you're getting now.

Re: Sleep duration is associated with brain structure and cognitive performance

#83

I have a very weird problem/issue, maybe someone can help. In my school days I used to maintain a dream diary, where I would note down every dream I had after waking up. I stopped doing that when I got into college, but dreams never stopped and I never stopped analysing and trying to remember the dreams. Fast forward to present time (10 years from school), whenever I want to wake up i.e. after 6-7 hours of sleep I ca…

I have very similar issues. The key for me is looking at the behavior as a routine and pattern and replace it with a better routine and pattern. You need something to avoid the morning thought trap. The best way I’ve found to counter it is to have an immediate morning routine. For example: I set my running’s shoes and clothes out and the first the I do when my alarm goes off is put them on and go for a run. I’ve done the same thing with meditation as the first part of my day. The key is to pick an activity with minimal activity energy and to setup some visual cues of that activity near your bed. Don’t allow yourself to get pulled into you mind and brain. Eventually your new habit can replace the old one It’s not easy to transition but achievable with persistence and time. It starts out very hard to turn off that pattern. It eventually becomes natural to start your day a different way.

I’ll be honest, right now my routine is in rough shape after a bout of depression, but I’m at about 3-4 days a week and slowly building it up. This is a problem that comes and goes for me and focusing on a steady routine always helps.

I also recommend some meditation practice. On my worse days my mind is a mess of thoughts and dreams in the morning and I can’t make sense of the world much less the running shoes next to my bed. The way I get myself out of that is to bringing back my attention to my breath and body as mindfulness. Eventually I have enough awareness I can start to curl my body and prop myself up for a few minutes while I continue to collect myself.

Re: Sleep duration is associated with brain structure and cognitive performance

#84
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Try splashing cold water in your face. Slap your self a few times. Turn on something that makes noise, like music. I would avoid recording your dreams, because it seems to be what got you stuck in the loop in the first place.

The only thing that gets me out of bed is the day/night cycle bulbs my snake needs. I know I can automate turning off the night light and turning on the day bulb, but if I don't automate then I know she's depending on me when my alarm goes off so I have to physically get up, walk to the other room, and flip a couple switches. On my way back, it's very easy for me to sit down at the counter and eat the sandwich I made…

What kind of snake do you keep?

Re: Sleep duration is associated with brain structure and cognitive performance

#85
post #52

A few years ago, I stopped setting an alarm clock on a regular basis. Now, I just sleep as long as I need, which is usually 8-9h a day. I struggled with sleep for years, but now I sleep good.

If I don’t set an alarm I always wake up much earlier, and grab my phone in fear that it’s too late. Setting an alarm at a very reasonable tim (ie >8h after going to bed) helps me sleep calmly, knowing that I will not oversleep.

It’s interesting how different minds work. :)

Re: Sleep duration is associated with brain structure and cognitive performance

#86
post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The risk with an inconsistent waking time is shifting forward the circadian rhythm, if you sleep in later and later. When that occurs you'll fall asleep later as well, or wake up more often. A wind-down period ahead of bedtime can also offer some flexibility, if you happen to have enough sleep pressure to fall asleep earlier some nights.

Haha I think that might be happening with me... do you suppose melatonin for a few nights a month would be a good idea to keep it stable?

Doesn't seem necessary, but at any rate only a small dose is needed to be effective i.e. 0.3mg. Too much OTC melatonin can backfire and lead to grogginess.

Melatonin levels should naturally spike near onset, but it can be suppressed by blue light emitting electronics and caffeine. A filter like flux on media devices in the evening can help - https://justgetflux.com/

Re: Sleep duration is associated with brain structure and cognitive performance

#87
post #79
post #52

A few years ago, I stopped setting an alarm clock on a regular basis. Now, I just sleep as long as I need, which is usually 8-9h a day. I struggled with sleep for years, but now I sleep good.

Slightly different experience. Stopped using an alarm clock when we had kids. Seem to always wake up between 6 and 7am and often tired during the day ;)

Kids wake up with light and sun. Then they wake you. Invest into really dark things on windows in kids room.

Also, don't send them to sleep too soon.

Re: Sleep duration is associated with brain structure and cognitive performance

#88

Don't get anxious. These kinds of studies are almost always overturned by another one within 12-24 months. Weak correlations are not worth worrying about.

Isn't there a pretty sizable body of research at this point suggesting that sleeplessness leads to cognitive deficits?

Re: Sleep duration is associated with brain structure and cognitive performance

#89

I have a very weird problem/issue, maybe someone can help. In my school days I used to maintain a dream diary, where I would note down every dream I had after waking up. I stopped doing that when I got into college, but dreams never stopped and I never stopped analysing and trying to remember the dreams. Fast forward to present time (10 years from school), whenever I want to wake up i.e. after 6-7 hours of sleep I ca…

This is interesting. I do this too and find it quite addictive. It’s a sort of groggy high, certainly an easy form of escape. It’s a place between dreaming and thinking.

I have many things I do just to get me out of bed to stop the cycle. I have a Philips sunlight alarm clock placed on the other side of the room, which combined with painfully chugging a pint of water is how I get up. I then have my breakfast arranged so I just have to press a button and my porridge will cook. Now if I don’t get up for that there will be a burnt pan which is more incentive not to lay in dreams.

Re: Sleep duration is associated with brain structure and cognitive performance

#90

I'm bipolar so I've gone through periods where I sleep 18 hours a day and periods where I sleep 2 hours a night if at all. Caffeine intake doesn't seem to matter. Medication and good mental hygiene helps a lot with this issue.

Lately my body seems to be waking me up after around 4.5 hours of sleep. I'm alert and well rested, but if I wake up I'll be tired in an hour or two. If I push myself to sleep more, I wake up around 7-8 hours feeling more tired, and I can easily sleep to 10 hours at that point. It's really frustrating, because there doesn't seem to be a perfect amount of sleep for me anymore. I'm 45, Bipolar type II. Ever since tryin…

I forgot to mention. I don't eat anything with added sugar. I eat very little food that contains natural sugar. A low sugar diet really improved my mood and sleep.
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