The Impact of Lunch Timing on Nap Quality
Purpose: Previous research has established that food intake is a biological regulator of the human sleep–wake cycle. As such, the timing of eating relative to sleep may influence the quality of sleep, including daytime naps. Here, we examine whether the timing of lunch (1 h vs. 2 h interval between...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-08-01
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| Series: | Clocks & Sleep |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2624-5175/6/3/27 |
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| author | Jennifer E. Fudge Emily T. Peterson Shae-Lynn M. Koe Hans C. Dringenberg |
| author_facet | Jennifer E. Fudge Emily T. Peterson Shae-Lynn M. Koe Hans C. Dringenberg |
| author_sort | Jennifer E. Fudge |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose: Previous research has established that food intake is a biological regulator of the human sleep–wake cycle. As such, the timing of eating relative to sleep may influence the quality of sleep, including daytime naps. Here, we examine whether the timing of lunch (1 h vs. 2 h interval between lunch and a napping opportunity) impacts the quality of an afternoon nap. Methods: Using a randomized within-subject design over two separate experimental sessions (7 days apart), participants (<i>n</i> = 40, mean age = 25.8 years) consumed lunch 1 h and 2 h prior to an afternoon nap opportunity. Polysomnography and subjective self-reports were used to assess sleep architecture, sleepiness levels, and nap quality. Results: Results revealed no significant differences in subjective ratings of sleep quality and sleepiness, or in sleep architecture (total sleep time, sleep efficiency, sleep onset latency, sleep stages) between the 1 h and 2-h lunch conditions. Conclusions: All sleep measures were similar when napping followed eating by either 1 h or 2 h, suggesting that eating closer to nap onset may not negatively impact sleep architecture and quality. Future research should continue to identify conditions that improve nap quality, given the well-documented benefits of naps to reduce sleep pressure and improve human performance. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6ddfe7d03dde4c39a9a2a3f85f37bd4a |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2624-5175 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Clocks & Sleep |
| spelling | doaj-art-6ddfe7d03dde4c39a9a2a3f85f37bd4a2025-08-20T01:55:28ZengMDPI AGClocks & Sleep2624-51752024-08-016340241610.3390/clockssleep6030027The Impact of Lunch Timing on Nap QualityJennifer E. Fudge0Emily T. Peterson1Shae-Lynn M. Koe2Hans C. Dringenberg3Department of Psychology, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, CanadaDepartment of Psychology, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, CanadaDepartment of Psychology, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, CanadaDepartment of Psychology, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, CanadaPurpose: Previous research has established that food intake is a biological regulator of the human sleep–wake cycle. As such, the timing of eating relative to sleep may influence the quality of sleep, including daytime naps. Here, we examine whether the timing of lunch (1 h vs. 2 h interval between lunch and a napping opportunity) impacts the quality of an afternoon nap. Methods: Using a randomized within-subject design over two separate experimental sessions (7 days apart), participants (<i>n</i> = 40, mean age = 25.8 years) consumed lunch 1 h and 2 h prior to an afternoon nap opportunity. Polysomnography and subjective self-reports were used to assess sleep architecture, sleepiness levels, and nap quality. Results: Results revealed no significant differences in subjective ratings of sleep quality and sleepiness, or in sleep architecture (total sleep time, sleep efficiency, sleep onset latency, sleep stages) between the 1 h and 2-h lunch conditions. Conclusions: All sleep measures were similar when napping followed eating by either 1 h or 2 h, suggesting that eating closer to nap onset may not negatively impact sleep architecture and quality. Future research should continue to identify conditions that improve nap quality, given the well-documented benefits of naps to reduce sleep pressure and improve human performance.https://www.mdpi.com/2624-5175/6/3/27sleep hygieneEEG analysisfood intakecircadian rhythm |
| spellingShingle | Jennifer E. Fudge Emily T. Peterson Shae-Lynn M. Koe Hans C. Dringenberg The Impact of Lunch Timing on Nap Quality Clocks & Sleep sleep hygiene EEG analysis food intake circadian rhythm |
| title | The Impact of Lunch Timing on Nap Quality |
| title_full | The Impact of Lunch Timing on Nap Quality |
| title_fullStr | The Impact of Lunch Timing on Nap Quality |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Impact of Lunch Timing on Nap Quality |
| title_short | The Impact of Lunch Timing on Nap Quality |
| title_sort | impact of lunch timing on nap quality |
| topic | sleep hygiene EEG analysis food intake circadian rhythm |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2624-5175/6/3/27 |
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