If you are naturally focused and active at night and your preferred bedtime beyond the 12am mark, you might consider yourself a "night owl" But if you're in a population struggling to keep your eyes open after 10 pm, you're probably a "morning lark" 

A new study by Imperial College London analyzed data from 26,000 people and found that night owls performed better on cognitive tests than those who enjoyed the early morning, leading to the conclusion that night owls are generally more mentally sharp than morning larks 

The study, published in BMJ Public Health on May 7, found that our natural bedtime preferences can have a significant impact on our mental alertness These findings come from 26,000 people who took part in cognitive tests including fluid intelligence/reasoning, pair matching, reaction time and future memory 

Results showed that self-confessed "night owls" generally performed better on cognitive tests compared to "morning larks"

Here we investigate the results of the study in more detail and see if it can change the time you feel you tend to fall asleep naturally, and if that's your psyche

Night owls and morning larks are colloquial names for certain chronotypes determined by genetics, age, and other factors The chronotype is the body's natural awakening and sleep schedule Night owls generally refer to people who sleep between 12am and 11am

This may be influenced by genetics and circadian rhythms So, if you are feeling naturally energetic in the morning, but your partner is struggling to get out of bed, it is likely that you have a different chronotype There is no right or wrong chronotype, but the study found that it can affect cognitive abilities 

The researchers looked at data from 26,000 people who described themselves as "morning people" or "evening people" to see how different aspects of sleep (duration, pattern, quality, etc) affected mental sharpness and overall cognitive performance 

The results of this study were very important because there were significant differences in test scores Night owls scored about 135% higher than the morning type in one group and 75% higher than the morning type in another group 

Also, considering that the analysis was adjusted for factors such as age, gender, health status, and lifestyle, these are fairly conclusive results

The study also found that middle sleepers (people who differ between staying up late and morning larks) were also better off, scoring about 2% and 63% higher than morning types in the two groups

The study could not decipher why being up late is associated with improved cognitive abilities However, he stressed the importance of getting enough sleepThis could mean that those who wake up early may not be getting as much sleep as those who lie down 

Dr Raha West, a postdoctoral fellow at the National Institutes of Health and lead author of the study, said, "While it is essential to understand and tackle natural sleep trends, it is equally important to remember to get enough sleep to avoid being too long or too short"

"We found that sleep time has a direct effect on brain function

However, there may be a deeper link between late waking and cognitive abilities, and Dr West concludes that "rather than just personal preferences, these chronotypes may affect our cognitive function"

So instead of trying to fight your natural chronotype, adjust your lifestyle to it and ensure 7-9 hours of sleep each night

Listening to the body's natural rhythms and being careful when energy peaks and when it gets sleepy is essential to have the necessary rest To accommodate for when you need to rest rather than trying to change your chronotype to fit a new job, partner, or lifestyle you

Dr West said, "It is possible to change your natural sleep habits by gradually adjusting your bedtime, increasing your exposure to night light, and maintaining a consistent sleep schedule" To completely change from morning to evening person is complicated"

Just ensuring the right amount of rest is likely to improve cognitive function, so don't let yourself be active when the body and mind are not cooperating

Caffeine has a very long half-life and that means staying in your system for hours This means that even if you feel the effects of coffee are disappearing, it can affect your brain and nervous system 

Drinking caffeine after noon can make it harder to fall asleep and make you more likely to wake up at night Avoiding caffeine and coffee before going to bed can help you take advantage of your natural circadian rhythm 

Our nighttime environment and what we sleep with play a major role in the quality of sleep we get Ensuring that you have the best mattress for your needs and tastes will help prevent interruptions during the night, and body and mind to refill alongside this, your bedroom must be cool, dark, cluttered, and quiet The less potential confusion, the better the quality of sleep you are getting If you need help brushing up your sleep environment, check out our advice on how to improve your sleep hygiene