Poor sleep has negative effects on learning: Study

Scientists found that insufficient sleep interfered with our circadian rhythm and would have adverse effects on our mental well-being in the long run. PHOTO | FOTOSEARCH

Lack of sleep can have a negative effect on our ability to learn and understand things as well as our mental health, two studies have shown.

The findings were published on October 14 in the online journal Science.

Scientists found that insufficient sleep interfered with our circadian rhythm and would have adverse effects on our mental well-being in the long run.

This means that enough sleep cannot be replaced by anything else if we wish to enjoy good health.

Circadian rhythm is a natural, internal process that regulates the cycle between sleeping and waking, which repeats after around every 24 hours.

It can also be used to define the physical, mental, and behavioural changes that follow a daily cycle. According to the United States National Institute of General Medical Sciences, these changes mainly occur due to corresponding changes in light and darkness in the environment.