A new study from Imperial College London shows that people who stay up late, called "night owls," may be smarter than those who wake up early, known as "early birds."

Night Owls Score Higher

The study looked at over 26,000 people. It found that night owls did better on brain tests, scoring up to 13.5% higher than early birds. Even people who didn't have a strong preference for morning or night scored better than early risers.

Why This Happens

Dr. Raha West, the lead author, said that being active in the evening might help people do better on cognitive tests. This means our natural sleep patterns, or "chronotypes," could affect how well our brains work.

The study also considered other factors like age, gender, smoking, drinking, and health conditions. Younger people and those with healthier lifestyles did better on the tests.

Importance of Sleep

But don't stay up all night! The study also found that getting the right amount of sleep is very important. People who slept between seven and nine hours a night had the best brain function. Sleeping too little or too much made brain performance worse.

Dr. West said, "It's important to get just the right amount of sleep to keep your brain healthy and working well."

More Research Needed

These findings are interesting, but more research is needed to fully understand how sleep patterns affect brain performance. So, whether you're a night owl or an early bird, focus on getting good quality sleep to keep your brain sharp.

Night Owls:

• Meaning: People who feel more alert and productive in the evening.

• Example: Mark is a night owl; he prefers to stay up late working on his projects.

Early Birds:

• Meaning: People who wake up early and feel more alert and productive in the morning.

• Example: Sarah is an early bird; she enjoys getting up at dawn to start her day.

Cognitive Performance:

• Meaning: How well the brain works, including thinking, learning, and remembering.

• Example: Good sleep can improve your cognitive performance, helping you think more clearly.

Chronotypes:

• Meaning: Natural sleep patterns that determine if a person is a morning or evening person.

• Example: Understanding your chronotype can help you plan your day better and be more productive.

Cognitive Assessments:

• Meaning: Tests that measure brain functions such as memory, attention, and problem-solving.

• Example: The participants took cognitive assessments to see how well their brains were working.