Words Laura Potter. Photograph iStock
Healthy Start
Swedish researchers have proven that women’s memories are impacted differently to men’s after sleep loss. Neuroscientists had a group – half men, half women – learn and remember eight-digit sequences in the morning following either a full night of sleep or a night of wakefulness. The men’s memories were unaffected, but women remembered fewer digits after sleep loss. They were also unaware of the difference, which researchers say is pertinent as this lack of awareness could make us more likely to have accidents, or make mistakes when sleep-deprived. So yes, we do need a lie in. Science says so.