Are You a Deep Sleeper? Scientists May Now Know Why
Some people are able to sleep through anything, and some will fly awake at the sound of a cough three rooms away. For many years, the reason for this has been a mystery. But now scientists believe they know why.
A new study has shown that there may be an extra protective quality to the number of ‘spindles’ located in the part of the brain that is responsible for monitoring senses, the thalamus. Spindles protect the brain for interruptions due to things like sound, and the more you have, the harder you will be to wake up.
The study, conducted by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital, watched 12 volunteers during their sleep. Each was between the ages of 20 and 46 with no prior history of sleep problems or disorders.
Each of three nights were spent with different noises, or no noise at all. Those with more spindles in the thalamus were able to ignore sounds like a flushing toilet or low voices speaking, while others who had a lower amount would wake up.
Scientists are not sure why spindles are produced more in some people, but whatever it is the more you have the more you will benefit in your sleep. Because small things like a car outside can wake those of us without them, sleep will be less restful than for those who can ignore them.
The study has been published in Current Biology.
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