from University of Utah
Some people feel like they don’t need the
recommended amount of nightly sleep, since
they report feeling no ill effects from what is
called short sleep. But a University of Utah
study found habitual short sleepers may be
more tired than they realize. Short sleepers
were divided into two groups—one saying
they were too drowsy during the daytime to
perform common tasks and the second group
that reported feeling fine. Both groups were
instructed to stay awake during an MRI, but
some drifted off, even those who denied sleep
dysfunction. Researchers say it is possible
that in a boring MRI scanner there is nothing
to keep them awake. Bothersome. Since
other boring situations, like driving a car at
night, may also put short sleepers at risk of
falling asleep.