Sleep deprivation and smartphone use

The title of the interview from the channel BBC with Professor Richard Wiseman, a psychologist at the University of Hertfordshire is: “Is your smartphone running your sleep?”

The interview is about that a lot of people don’t get the amount of sleep they need, which is a big disaster, according to Professor Richard Wiseman. He argues that adults need in generally about eight to eight and a half hours of sleep, while teenagers need an extra hour of sleep. But the problem is that around two-thirds the population getting less than seven hours. The number is increasing.

One of the most important reasons for the large sleep deprivation is our smartphones and tablets, according to Professor Wiseman. They affect us psychologically but also physically. First thing is that social media and videos etc. stimulates us. The second thing is that the screen on our electronic devices emits a specific blue light which affects a hormone in the brain. This hormone is very important in order to fall asleep. So in short, the blue light stimulates your brain so you can’t fall asleep, according to Professor Wiseman. Wiseman had looked at the effects of power napping. He believes, that it’s surprisingly effective to take one hour of sleep. You should not be napping more than an hour and a half, because then you go into deep sleep. 20 minutes is the minimum.