The Challenge of Morning Brain

On January 11, 2006, I read an article written by Michelle Healy in USA Today and thought it presented an interesting perspective and insight.

Morning Brain Drain Saps Mental Ability

That grogginess you feel even after eight hours of slee0p can be more debilitating than sleep deprivation, researchers report. In a study, test subjects had diminished short-term memory, counting skills and cognitive abilities during the bleary-eyed period upon awakening, a condition know as sleep inertia.

“For a short period, at least, the effects of sleep inertia may be as bad as or worse than being legally drunk,” says researcher Kenneth Wright of the University of Colorado-Boulder. That befuddled feeling usually lasts for at least a few minutes but may be detectable for up to two hours, says the study in today’s Journal of American Medical Association.

There is evidence that the cortical areas of the brain thought to be responsible for problem-solving, complex thought and emotions take longer to wake up than other parts of the brain, the study says.