Other uses of light would eliminate the problem much more efficiently
Even starting classes later would probably not reduce the lack of sleep among British young people. This is the conclusion reached by researchers from the University of Surrey and Harvard Medical School in their current study.
Mathematicians and sleep researchers predict in “Scientific Reports” that less lighting in the evening would be much more beneficial.
Mathematical model
Teenagers like to go to bed late and then have trouble getting out of bed in time for school. The shift in their internal clock is commonly used to explain this phenomenon.
It was therefore suggested that their lessons should simply start later.
The study used a mathematical model to predict the consequences of starting school later, taking into account whether people are usually morning or evening people, the effects of natural and artificial light on the internal clock and when the alarm clock usually goes off .
Delicate biological clocks
The model shows that starting school later would not make the lack of sleep disappear. When the clocks reset again in the fall, most teenagers' internal clocks would be even more delayed in response.
Over the course of a few weeks, getting up in the morning would become just as difficult. However, the results also provide arguments for a later start to school in the USA. Many schools there start at seven in the morning.
The model also revealed that adolescents' light consumption behavior influences their natural interaction with the environment.
Getting up later is a result of the lights being on until late at night. This shifts the biological clock further and makes it even more difficult to get up in the morning.
According to the experts, the biological clocks of adolescents are particularly sensitive to the use of light.
A sensible alternative to starting classes later in Great Britain would be to use light differently - lots of bright light during the day, dimming in the evening and switching it off at night.
According to lead scientist Anne Skeldon, the advantage of mathematical models is that existing knowledge can be used to make predictions about the effects of different possible interventions.
Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )