Ok, so I think we all think wish we had at least one more hour in the day. I know I do (perhaps if I did I would write this blog more often). Well............I was just reading a study that I think we all might find very interesting (not to mention a good excuse for when we can't get everything done).



Subjects were put in experimental chambers that completely isolated them from their usual external environment, including knowledge of time of day. For the first few days, they were exposed to a 24 hour rest/activity cycle in which the room lights were turned on and off at the same time each day. Under these conditions, their sleep/wake cycles were 24 hours long.

Then, all environmental time cues were eliminated, and the subjects were allowed to control the lights themselves. Immediately, their sleep/wake patterns began to change. On average, bedtime began 30 min. later each day, and so did wake-up time. Thus a sleep wake cycle persisted in the complete absence of environmental cues.

They were creating 25 hour days. This indicates that cues are required to entrain a circadian rhythm to 24 hours!!!

So next time you are late for work or don't do the laundry...........don't worry it is not your fault, it is just your body, it thinks it has one more hour in the day!