From the smallest critter to the mightiest predator, what phase the moon is in can drastically alter an animal’s behavior and sleeping patterns.
Some insects glow in the dark, lions tend to attack humans the days following a full moon, and, pets get erratic, often ending up in the vet’s office. But what about us humans? Are we immune to the wiles of the glowing orb in the night sky?
Turns out, no, and especially so in the realm of sleep.
Research shows that people often take longer to drift off – around five extra minutes – and sleep about 20 minutes less during the full moon phase. Brain activity linked to sleep drops by nearly 30%, and melatonin levels dip too, especially noted in a 2013 Swiss study. Other studies echo this finding, pointing out that during full moons, participants fall asleep slower, enjoy less deep sleep, and reach the REM stage later.
In one of the most expansive studies to date, researchers analyzed sleep patterns in three indigenous Argentinian communities and 464 American college students living in Seattle, and arrived at the same findings! That is, on nights before a full moon (when the waxing moon brightens evenings) people went to bed later and slept significantly less, regardless of the amount of exposure to artificial light.
Other sources reinforce that full moons can impact how quickly we fall asleep, lower sleep quality, and reduce deep sleep, even in dark rooms, suggesting that light is not the only culprit.
So, if your nights have felt oddly restless when the moon is full, or nearly full, there’s actual sleep science behind it.
