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Study Discovers at Least 16 Different Types of Sleep

written by / May 8, 2022
Study Discovers at Least 16 Different Types of Sleep

A new, massive-scale study conducted at the University of Tokyo reveals 16 different sleep patterns among the general adult population — a far more colorful sleep reality than the scientists could ever imagine.

The data was collected from wristband accelerometers, which measured arm movements and twitches, that participants wore for several days. 

Results unveiled 16 sleep phenotypes, including natural chronotypes and lifestyle-related sleeping patterns — both potentially invaluable clinical information for future sleep disorder diagnosis and treatment. 

The arm movements of over 100,000 people, mainly living in the UK (Biobank project data), were linked with changes in their sleep and wakefulness. Then, a machine-learning algorithm processed the extensive data, organizing it into clusters (categories).

Participants’ sleeping was categorized according to six of the 21 sleep quality indicators, including sleep duration and midawake. 

According to them, researchers discovered five broad categories of sleepers and several subtypes indicative of morning and evening chronotypes and insomnia-related sleeping schedules. 

For example, sleepers in the first category had insomnia with long sleep duration and a midawake phase. On the other hand, those in the fifth category slept exclusively during the night, without awakenings or daily naps.   

Sleepers in the second, third, and fourth clusters were further subcategorized into at least two more subcategories — a and b.   

The second category encompasses people with fragmented sleep patterns due to shift work and those with fragmented sleep and short sleep duration. 

The third cluster included people with insomnia and long and short sleep duration. Those in the fourth category had multiple sleep irregularities like longer or shorter circadian rhythms depending on various factors, including social jet lag.  

The advantages of this study are its massive scale and unbiased result processing. Furthermore, the data it provided could bring a better understanding of insomnia and sleep disorders to the next level and help with diagnosis and treatment.

Marija Kovachevska is a content writer at LoudCloudHealth.com, Biochemist and Activist. After obtaining her BSc in Biochemistry and Physiology she changed her microscope for content research tools and continued researching in the fields of Medicine, Biology, and Communication. Her insatiable curiosity flare drove her to become a “content scientist writer” as she likes to say. Reality fascinates her and facts and statistics are a must-have feature in her articles. Fluent in English and French, she is a volunteer and communication associate for several non-profit organizations. French culture and handcrafting are her passion, but in her free time, she indulges in long walks and traveling, or as she likes to say “experiencing the inexperienced.”


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