Study: Women Require More Sleep Than Men Because They Use More of Their Brains

Researchers at Loughborough University’s Sleep Research Center in England say women need more sleep than men.

The reason? They use more of their brains.

According to professor Jim Horne, “Women’s brains are wired differently … so their sleep need will be slightly greater.”

“Women tend to multi-task, they do lots at once and are flexible, and so they use more of their actual brain than men do,” Horne told KDKA-TV.

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The Pittsburgh news station spoke with local men and women to get their perspective on the study.

“We do more things during the day, and therefore, we do need a better rest period to regenerate for the next day,” Sarah Eates told KDKA.

Ryan Brennan said that there is no doubt women use more of their brains:

“One-hundred percent true,” Brennan told KDKA. “I can’t verify the sleep but definitely use more of their brains.”

The study, which covered just over 200 sleepers, found that women need about 20 additional minutes a night. Every person should get an absolute minimum of six hours a night, KDKA reported.

Horne shared how a lack of sleep has direct and obvious effects on women.

“For women, poor sleep is strongly associated with high levels of psychological distress and greater feelings of hostility, depression and anger,” he said. “In contrast, these feelings were not associated with the same degree of sleep disruption in men.”

DeMichael Clarke agreed there is a definite correlation with the lack of a woman’s sleep: “But their crankiness is a little more quiet, they might close the cabinets a little louder and not speak to you but I’d say overall yes,” the Pittsburgh man told KDKA.

Kate McKenzie told the station the amount of sleep she gets directly affects her mood, “I would say I’m in a much better mood and more productive which leads me to be nicer if I have some more sleep.”

Jasmine Jackson agreed with McKenzie, adding, “I think we got a lot of hormones going on — I think we got a lot more hormones than men.”

The study proved worrisome for some women.

“I would hope that’s not true, I would hope I’m not that way when I’m deprived of sleep,” Danielle Hudson, who was standing with Brennan, told KDKA. Hudson then turned and looked at her companion, who quickly responded, “I’m not even going to touch that one! No chance.”

(H/T: KDKA-TV)

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