Full moon may influence sleep patterns, inhibit melatonin production

July 26, 2013

Scientists in Switzerland have evidence that sleep patterns are influenced by lunar changes.

Their study finds that brain activity related to deep sleep drops by 30 percent around the full moon. It can also take longer to fall asleep and stay asleep.

The body can produce less melatonin, a hormone known to regulate sleep, when the moon is full.

The study is in the journal Current Biology.

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