Swinging movements help not only babies sleep better, but also adults. According to 2 US studies, rocking also helps mice. The results of scientific work will help scientists develop more effective and safe sleeping pills.
How did scientists identify the positive swing effect?
A research team from Geneva studied how soft rocking during the night affects adult sleep quality. The swinging movement allowed the study participants to fall asleep faster, wake up less often and spend more time in deep sleep.
In a previous study, they already found similar effects when they allowed people to sleep in bed for 45 minutes. Nevertheless, a new study was aimed at studying the effects of wiggle overnight.
Researchers had 18 young people who spent 3 nights in a sleep lab. The first night was for reference. For the next 2 nights, one group spent time in a slightly swaying bed, and the other in the same bed, which did not move. Collected data on participants' sleep quality showed that the swing seemed to help better fall asleep.
Scientists also wanted to study how swinging during the night affects the memory quality of subjects. Therefore, they asked the participants to learn a few words in the evening and asked them the next morning. The best results were observed in people who were rocked throughout the night.
Analysis of brain activity during sleep showed that swing affects brain waves and appears to help synchronize the activity of nerve cells in the brain.
The cells that connect the thalamus and the cerebral cortex are especially effective in synchronizing. Neural networks play an important role in both falling asleep and waking up. According to earlier studies, they also participate in the transfer of information from short-term memory to long-term.
In a second study, scientists from the University of Lausanne showed that mice also fall asleep faster and sleep longer if their cells sway slightly. New findings from two studies may provide evidence for new treatments to help patients with sleep problems.
Does rocking make waking and falling asleep easier?
Swinging in a hammock may, according to a study of sleep, facilitate falling asleep and allow you to quickly go into the phase of deep sleep. The study involved approximately 12 people.
Adult participants were from 22 to 38 years old. None of the patients were diagnosed with sleep disturbance. None of the subjects suffered from chronic fatigue. To help people fall asleep, the sleep lab was darkened and noise levels were kept low.
While the participants were asleep, brain activity was measured using electroencephalography (EEG). Sleep researchers were able to observe typical phases of sleep:
- falling asleep phase;
- shallow sleep;
- deep dream;
- fast sleep (fast eye movement).
In an experimental setting, all study participants who were more exposed to vibrations fell asleep faster. Researchers were surprised that certain types of brain activity occurred during certain vibrations.
Researchers concluded that monotonous-vibrational movements also increase the duration of sleep. The average increase in duration was 30-45 minutes. The rate of falling asleep increased from 15 to 10-5 minutes.
What areas of the brain are activated when rocking?
According to the research team, it is possible that the tonsil in the central region of the brain is stimulated by constant swaying. It is believed that this area of the brain has an extremely relaxing effect on the body. This, in turn, plays an important role in regulating the sleep process.
However, swing can reduce a person's sensitivity to external stimuli.
In any case, it can be shown that gentle swaying is useful not only for infants and toddlers, but also for adults.
According to the researchers, even a slight vibration improves falling asleep, duration and quality of sleep. Swiss scientists also plan to develop beds that will wiggle a person overnight.
