Sleep
Can a Bad Night’s Sleep Trigger a Migraine?
Scientists have found a feedback loop between poor sleep and migraine attacks, and breaking the cycle could be key to treatments
Sleep41 articles archived since 1845
Sleep
Sleeping People Can Follow Simple Spoken Commands
A new study finds that we respond to simple commands, such as smiling or frowning, in certain phases of sleep
Sleep
Should You Wake Someone from the Throes of a Nightmare?
Nightmares are unpleasant, but waking someone in the midst of one isn’t the best way to handle them—here’s why
Sleep
Why Do We Forget So Many of Our Dreams?
We only remember a fraction of our dreams, and even those slip away if we don’t try to remember them—here’s why
Electronics
Do Blue-Light Glasses Help with Eyestrain?
An analysis of previous trials suggests blue-light-filtering lenses may not reduce eyestrain or sleep problems
Sleep
Are Naps Good for You?
Here’s the science on whether naps have short- and long-term benefits for your health
Sleep
Are You a Lucid Dreamer?
A sleep researcher who studies what dreams can tell us about the possible onset of some mental disorders believes lucid dreamers might hold a lot of answers in their head.
Sleep
What to Do When You Can’t Fall Asleep May Surprise You
When sleep feels elusive, getting out of bed can calm your mind and help you avoid bad sleep habits
Sleep
Sleep Deprivation Sometimes Relieves Depression. A New Study May Show Why
Understanding why going without sleep eases depression in some people may lead to less taxing methods to boost mood
Sleep
How Do CPAP Machines Treat Sleep Apnea?
President Joe Biden has been using a CPAP machine to treat his sleep apnea, according to White House officials. What does that mean?
Animals
Horses Stand Up to Sleep but Lie Down Perchance to Dream
Horses are specially built to snooze on their hooves, but there’s a catch
Sleep
Should You Give Your Kid Melatonin?
Young children are taking melatonin gummy supplements, but experts say they should be a last resort to help with sleep
Sleep
Changing Clocks to Daylight Saving Time Is Bad for Your Health
A neurologist explains why our bodies fare better when aligned with the natural light of standard time
Sleep
The Scientific Secret to Soothing Fussy Babies
Some animals’ babies physically relax when their parents whisk them away from danger. The same thing works for tiny, wailing humans.
Sleep
Let Teenagers Sleep
Despite years of evidence that starting school later promotes better health and improved grades, too few schools have adopted this measure
Sleep
Readers Respond to the April 2022 Issue
Letters to the editor for the April 2022 issue of Scientific American
Sleep
It Goes by the Name ‘Bedtime Procrastination,’ and You Can Probably Guess What It Is
Putting off sleep can have unfortunate consequences
Sleep
Should We Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent? Let’s Sleep on It
Scientists are less enthusiastic than the U.S. Senate about DST year-round
Biotech
Neck-Zapping Gadget Reduced All-Nighter Fatigue in New Study
And the benefits of two four-minute sessions persisted for hours
Neuroscience
People Answer Scientists’ Queries in Real Time while Dreaming
Researchers demonstrate that during REM sleep, people can hear—and respond to—simple questions such as “What is eight minus six?”
