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night owls

This shows people working at night and day.

·June 2, 2025·3 min read

Night Owls More Impulsive Than Morning Larks

A new study reveals that adolescents who identify as “night owls” tend to be more impulsive than their early-rising peers. These teens reported higher negative urgency and lower perseverance, meaning they were more likely to act rashly under stress and abandon difficult tasks.

This shows a person working early in the morning and one working at night.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 31, 2025·6 min read

Night Owls Face Faster Cognitive Decline

People who naturally stay up late, so-called "night owls", are more likely to experience faster cognitive decline than those who are early risers, according to a long-term study. Researchers found that unhealthy behaviors common in the evening, such as poor sleep, smoking, and drinking, may explain part of this risk.

This shows two people awake at night on their phones.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 19, 2025·3 min read

Higher Depression Risks for Night Owls

A new study finds that staying up late, known as having an “evening chronotype,” is associated with a higher risk of depression. Researchers analyzed data from 546 university students and found that this link is influenced by sleep quality, alcohol consumption, and mindfulness levels.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 15, 2024·5 min read

Night Owls Have Higher Cognitive Aptitude

A recent study links sleep preferences to brain performance, finding that "night owls" often score higher on cognitive tests than "morning larks." Researchers analyzed data from over 26,000 people, highlighting that sleeping 7-9 hours a night optimizes brain function.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 1, 2024·7 min read

Night Owls Beware: Late Bedtimes Harm Mental Health

Staying up late harms mental health regardless of one's natural sleep preference. Surveying nearly 75,000 adults, researchers discovered that both morning and night types who stayed up late had higher rates of mental disorders. Surprisingly, aligning with one's chronotype didn't matter—early bedtimes benefited everyone. The study suggests lights out by 1 a.m. for better mental health.

This shows a person awake late at night.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 16, 2023·5 min read

Night Owls’ Lifespan Less Linked to Sleep Patterns, More to Lifestyle Choices

Recent research refutes the idea that 'night owls' face a shorter lifespan due to their late-night tendencies, emphasizing lifestyle factors like smoking and drinking as the more significant contributors. The study involved almost 23,000 twins from Finland, tracked over a period of 37 years.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 9, 2022·3 min read

Evening People Show Enhanced Fear Acquisition, Which May Increase the Risk to Develop Anxiety

The vulnerability of those with evening chronotypes to anxiety, PTSD, and related disorders may be mediated by altered fear acquisition.

This shows a woman stretching by a window in the morning light

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·July 20, 2021·5 min read

“Springing Forward” Affects Early Birds Less Than Night Owls

People who are genetically predisposed to be "early birds" only take a few days to adjust to time changes as a result of daylight savings. Night owls can take over a week to adjust to the time change.

This shows a man working on some rail tracks at night

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·June 1, 2021·3 min read

Early Bird or Night Owl? Study Links Shift Worker Sleep to ‘Chronotype’

Findings of a new study could help to design better strategies to improve sleep in workers with atypical work schedules.

This shows a young girl sitting on a bed with headphones on while looking at her phone

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 10, 2021·3 min read

Young Night Owls With High Psychosis Risk Experience More Psychotic Symptoms

Study reveals adolescents with a high risk of developing psychosis and who were night owls reported experiencing an increase in psychotic symptoms.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·October 27, 2020·4 min read

How a Common Mutation Leads to ‘Night Owl’ Sleep Disorder

A mutation in a gene associated with circadian rhythm extends the clock period, causing people to stay up late at night and sleep late in the mornings.

This shows a sleepy woman reaching for an alarm clock

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Psychology

·August 25, 2019·4 min read

Night owls may have 10 percent higher risk of early death

A study that spanned 6.5 years reveals night owls have a 10% increased risk of death over those who sleep and rise early. Keeping late hours is also associated with numerous health risks, social isolation, and increased risk of depression.