How Your Sleep Type Impacts Cognitive Abilities + What To Do About It

You probably know whether you're an early bird or a night owl, but did you know your sleep chronotype may actually be related to your cognitive abilities? According to new research published in the journal Behavioral Sciences1, it is—here's what to know.

As study co-author and director of the University of Ottawa Sleep Research Laboratory Stuart Fogel, Ph.D., explains in a news release, "Once you account for key factors including bedtime and age, we found the opposite to be true, that morning types tend to have superior verbal ability," adding that this outcome was "surprising," and "signals this is much more complicated than anyone thought before."

While you may not be able to decide whether you're an early bird or night owl, another notable finding of this study showed that early birds tended to have higher inter-daily stability, meaning their sleep schedules were more consistent than the night owls of the bunch.

And of course, no matter what time your body naturally wants to go to bed, it never hurts to set yourself up for a good night's sleep. So whether you're an early bird or a night owl, leaning on helpful tools like blackout curtains, quality sleep supplements, and sunrise alarm clocks can help you keep your circadian rhythm regulated.*

Your chronotype may not be a choice, but it goes without saying that it impacts everything from your energy levels throughout the day and, according to this research, even your cognitive abilities. In the end, what appears to matter most is the regularity of your circadian rhythm, giving us all one more reason to prioritize sleep schedule consistency.