Cause of sleep disturbances
A healthy, peaceful sleep has become a rarity for many people. Scientists have now found a new cause for sleepless nights.
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A stressful everyday life, personal problems or just a wrong mattress are well-known reasons for sleep problems. However, researchers at Ryerson University in Toronto have now discovered a new, surprising cause for poor sleep. According to their study published in June 2012, the fear of dark may be responsible for restless nights.
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As part of the study, scientists led by study leader Colleen Carney observed 93 hours of sleep. They were divided into "good" and "bad" sleepers, depending on whether they were struggling with sleep disorders. Of all subjects, 26 percent indicated that they did not like the darkness, and 46 percent said they had difficulty sleeping. At first, all test persons slept in a bright room and were disturbed by sudden noise. All sleepers reacted to the sounds in the same way.
New treatment of sleep problems possible
Afterwards, the researchers performed the same experiment in a dark room. They noticed that the "good" sleepers could get used to the background noise and sleep soundly. The "bad" sleepers, on the other hand, responded with a squeak to the noise and slumbered very restless.
From this, Colleen Carney concludes that people with insomnia may have an unrecognized fear of darkness. In it, the scientists see a new way to treat sleep problems - and that by freeing those affected first from their phobia. However, many more studies are needed before the findings from the study can actually be applied.
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