People who live contrary to their biological clock are harmful to their health and are at risk of obesity, diabetes, poor concentration. That is why it is good to adjust our daily routine to the requirements encoded in our genes, Deutsche Welle writes. Larks or owls? What does it depend on? The early risers, also called “larks”, usually get to work early, can concentrate almost immediately and reach the end of the working day faster. This gives the impression that they seem to have more free time.
“Owls” – on the contrary, reach peak form in the evening and often begin to deal with their duties, when the larks have long been tired and rested. Often the “owls” do their job more calmly, and according to some research – even more creative. A 2016 study identified 15 similar genes that determine the workings of our biological clock. Seven of these segments are even located next to our already known genes that regulate the change of rhythm between the waking phase and sleep. This is evident from a study of the genetic material of nearly 90,000 people. In “owls” the body temperature rises later than in “larks”, and the sleep hormone melatonin is released with a delay. The study also shows that women are more likely to wake up earlier than men. Scientific evidence for the relationship between physiological processes in the body and the corresponding chronotype is presented by researchers from the Institute for Labor Studies “Leibniz” at the Technical University of Dortmund. Their research shows that cognitive abilities – such as learning, quick comprehension, thinking and memory – are certainly influenced by different chronotypes. The attention, short-term memory and cognitive abilities of 36 volunteers were studied during the active part of the day. The results are clear: cognition and motor skills are significantly better in the preferred part of the day.
