Using an eye mask while sleeping improves memory and reaction speed

For those who would like to wake up full of energy and more ready for the work day, there is a very simple way to achieve this with almost no effort. All that is required is to regularly wear a sleep mask. An international team of researchers from research centers in the United Kingdom, Italy and the United States concluded that there is a correlation between ambient light and sleep quality. They are convinced that by controlling light, it is possible to control sleep, making it more useful for the person.

Their study found that the light surrounding a sleeping person can have a direct effect on the duration and structure of sleep. The study was based on experiments that also examined the effects of regular mask use. One of them involved 89 people of different ages. They were asked to use night masks for a week. At the end of said period, they underwent laboratory tests of word association. The results showed that wearing the masks improved reaction speed and the ability to remember events and experiences.

The second experiment included 33 participants. They wore not only masks, but also special blindfolds to measure brain activity levels during sleep and devices to assess light intensity when they woke up. It turned out that wearing the mask ensured a longer duration of the “slow” sleep phase. The effect of the mask on the person was assessed by the experts as “positive”. They emphasize that by using this cost-effective and non-invasive method, the quality of cognitive function and daily life can be improved.

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