Natural Sleep and Its Seasonal Variations

Some interesting research picked up by the BBC and presented in Current Biology on sleep.  Biphasic sleep may not my innate nor optimal (although there is conflicting evidence).  The highlights are:

• •Preindustrial societies in Tanzania, Namibia, and Bolivia show similar sleep parameters
• •They do not sleep more than “modern” humans, with average durations of 5.7–7.1 hr
• •They go to sleep several hours after sunset and typically awaken before sunrise
• •Temperature appears to be a major regulator of human sleep duration and timing

Clearly season, light and temperature themselves are all linked by sunlight and day-length.  Sleep quality moves up a gear and the basics of sleep hygiene remain the same.