Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Stages of Sleep01:22

Stages of Sleep

1.5K
Sleep progresses through distinct stages, each characterized by specific brain wave patterns and physiological responses ranging from wakefulness to stages of non-rapid eye movement, known as non-REM, to rapid eye movement, referred to as REM. Understanding these stages helps in recognizing how sleep supports various bodily and cognitive functions.
Before sleep begins, in wakefulness, the brain exhibits primarily beta waves, which are high in frequency and low in amplitude, indicating alertness...
1.5K
Sleep-Wake Cycles01:24

Sleep-Wake Cycles

2.9K
Sleep is an essential physiological process vital to maintaining overall well-being. The reticular activating system (RAS), a network of neurons in the brainstem, regulates wakefulness and sleep. While it may seem passive, sleep consists of distinct cycles, each with its unique characteristics and functions. Two key sleep phases are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and  rapid eye movement (REM).
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
2.9K
Understanding Sleep01:11

Understanding Sleep

1.7K
Sleep, an essential biological state, involves significant reductions in physical activity, sensory awareness, and interaction with the environment. This complex physiological process is primarily regulated by specific brain regions, notably the hypothalamus and pons, which govern the sleep-wake cycle or circadian rhythm.
The circadian rhythm, a nearly 24-hour cycle, is deeply influenced by environmental light cues. Light exposure directly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates...
1.7K
Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation01:13

Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation

1.4K
Insufficient sleep refers to not getting the recommended amount of sleep for optimal functioning, even if it's just slightly less than needed. Sleep insufficiency may occur due to lifestyle choices, such as staying up late for social events or work, resulting in routinely getting less sleep than required. For example, consistently sleeping 6 hours when the body needs 7-9 hours can lead to cumulative effects on health and well-being.
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
1.4K
Cause and Effect01:53

Cause and Effect

10.5K
While variables are sometimes correlated because one does cause the other, it could also be that some other factor, a confounding variable, is actually causing the systematic movement in our variables of interest. For instance, as sales in ice cream increase, so does the overall rate of crime. Is it possible that indulging in your favorite flavor of ice cream could send you on a crime spree? Or, after committing crime do you think you might decide to treat yourself to a cone?
10.5K
Management of Insomnia01:19

Management of Insomnia

765
The sleep cycle, an integral part of human health, consists of several stages with distinct characteristics and functions. It begins with a transition from wakefulness to sleep, known as the light sleep phase, followed by the restorative deep sleep phase, essential for physical recovery and growth. The cycle concludes with the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) phase, characterized by high brain activity and vivid dreaming. Insomnia, a prevalent sleep disorder, involves difficulty falling asleep, staying...
765

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Incidence Trends of Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer in Germany: A Registry-Based Study From 2003 to 2023.

International journal of cancer·2026
Same author

The psychosocial matters: a call for attachment theory in kidney health research.

Renal failure·2026
Same author

PRehab tO PreparE Living Liver Donors for Enhanced Recovery (PROPELLER): A Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial.

Clinical transplantation·2026
Same author

Association of Kidney Volume With Patient-Reported Outcomes in ADPKD.

Kidney international reports·2026
Same author

Beyond the Equation: A Call for Sustained Equity in Chronic Kidney Disease Care for Black Communities.

Canadian journal of kidney health and disease·2026
Same author

A peripheral glial niche orchestrates the early stages of skin wound healing.

Cell stem cell·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 23, 2026

Human Circadian Phenotyping and Diurnal Performance Testing in the Real World
10:16

Human Circadian Phenotyping and Diurnal Performance Testing in the Real World

Published on: April 7, 2020

9.5K

Association between lunar phase and sleep characteristics.

Csilla Zita Turányi1, Katalin Zsuzsanna Rónai1, Rezső Zoller2

  • 1Institute of Behavioral Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.

Sleep Medicine
|October 1, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Sleep quality may be affected by the full moon. This study found that the full moon was associated with reduced sleep efficiency and deep sleep, and longer REM latency in patients undergoing sleep studies.

Keywords:
Full moonInsomniaLunar cyclePolysomnographySleep parameters

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Connection Between Sleep Disorders and Cognitive Symptoms in Depression
04:33

Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Connection Between Sleep Disorders and Cognitive Symptoms in Depression

Published on: April 26, 2024

1.8K
Through-the-Wall Blood Sampling Method to Minimize Sleep Disruption in Clinical Settings
06:39

Through-the-Wall Blood Sampling Method to Minimize Sleep Disruption in Clinical Settings

Published on: June 13, 2025

599

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 23, 2026

Human Circadian Phenotyping and Diurnal Performance Testing in the Real World
10:16

Human Circadian Phenotyping and Diurnal Performance Testing in the Real World

Published on: April 7, 2020

9.5K
Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Connection Between Sleep Disorders and Cognitive Symptoms in Depression
04:33

Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Connection Between Sleep Disorders and Cognitive Symptoms in Depression

Published on: April 26, 2024

1.8K
Through-the-Wall Blood Sampling Method to Minimize Sleep Disruption in Clinical Settings
06:39

Through-the-Wall Blood Sampling Method to Minimize Sleep Disruption in Clinical Settings

Published on: June 13, 2025

599

Area of Science:

  • Sleep Medicine
  • Chronobiology
  • Human Physiology

Background:

  • The lunar cycle's influence on human physiology and behavior, particularly sleep, is a subject of popular belief but lacks consistent scientific evidence.
  • Previous studies on the association between lunar phases and sleep have yielded conflicting results.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between different lunar phases (new moon, full moon, alternate moon) and objective sleep parameters.
  • To analyze sleep characteristics in relation to the lunar cycle using polysomnography data.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of sleep study data from 319 patients was conducted.
  • Exclusion criteria included an apnea-hypopnea index of 15/h or higher.
  • Standard one-night polysomnography was performed, and associations between lunar phases and sleep parameters were examined in adjusted and unadjusted models.

Main Results:

  • The full moon was significantly associated with lower sleep efficiency (74% vs. 82% for new/alternate moon).
  • Participants experienced less deep sleep during the full moon (6% vs. 9-11% for new/alternate moon).
  • REM latency was increased during the full moon (137 min vs. 97-98 min for new/alternate moon), even after adjusting for covariates.

Conclusions:

  • The findings support the popular belief and recent reports suggesting a link between the full moon and altered sleep characteristics.
  • Sleep efficiency, deep sleep duration, and REM latency appear to be measurably affected by the lunar cycle.