Matt and Eti return today for another AMA session where they dive into even more fascinating and often quirky sleep questions that have been submitted by listeners. In this installment, our duo explores the evolutionary puzzle of why we sleep, despite the apparent risks it poses for survival. They also share insights into how early organisms, like earthworms, exhibit sleep-like states, which raises the question: did wakefulness evolve from sleep? As the episode continues, the pair tackle practic...
Oct 07, 2024•59 min
Matt Walker welcomes Dr. Jessica Lunsford-Avery, an Associate Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University to the podcast today. Dr. Lunsford-Avery, a clinical psychologist, delves into the crucial link between sleep and mental health in children with ADHD. Her groundbreaking research explores how sleep impacts daytime impairment in ADHD, focusing on cognitive behavioral therapies to improve both sleep quality and ADHD symptoms. Their discussion highlights the critical need...
Sep 23, 2024•1 hr 14 min
Dr. William “Bill” Jagust, renowned expert in brain science and Alzheimer’s research - and one of the reasons Matt chose to move to UC Berkeley - joins our host today for an in-depth discussion on aging, cognitive decline, and the critical role of neuroimaging, with some sleep talk woven in as well. Dr. Jagust shares groundbreaking insights into how PET scans can detect amyloid and tau proteins in the brain—two key contributors to Alzheimer’s disease—years before symptoms emerge. Together with M...
Sep 09, 2024•1 hr 19 min
In this latest AMA episode, Matt and Eti are back to tackle listener questions about naps and sleepwalking this time around. They begin by delving into the intricacies of power naps and their impact on brain function and sleep health, and go on to discuss the optimal timing and duration for naps, emphasizing that a balance between benefits and drawbacks is crucial. Shorter naps of 10-20 minutes are highlighted for their ability to boost alertness and focus with minimal sleep inertia. Conversely,...
Sep 02, 2024•48 min
Dr. Wendy Troxel returns to the podcast today to discuss the significant impact of sleep on relationships and mental health with Matt. Offering actionable strategies for couples facing inevitable sleep disruptions, Dr. Troxel emphasizes the importance of communication, suggesting that couples anticipate sleep challenges, share responsibilities, and use tools like the "slangry" label to recognize and manage sleep-deprived behaviors. She also highlights the importance of timing conversat...
Aug 26, 2024•51 min•Ep. 80
This week, Matt shines his spotlight on the intriguing topic of melatonin use for individuals living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). While melatonin has been discussed in previous episodes in relation to sleep enhancement and antioxidant properties, today's focus is on a recent meta-analysis that examines its effectiveness in treating sleep disorders specifically in those with ASD. This deep dive is prompted by new data and the pervasive sleep challenges faced by individuals with autis...
Aug 12, 2024•34 min•Ep. 79
In yet another informative and entertaining AMA episode, Matt and Doctor Eti Ben-Simon delve into the variety of sleep-related questions uppermost in listeners’ minds . Matt begins by explaining that THC, the main psychoactive component in cannabis, can help individuals fall asleep initially but disrupts sleep patterns and circadian rhythms with chronic use. This can lead to increased brain temperature, tolerance, dependence, and decreased REM sleep, impacting emotional regulation and overall he...
Aug 05, 2024•1 hr 10 min
The Science of Shared Sleep: Dr. Wendy Troxel on Bedtime and Relationships This week, Matt is joined by Dr. Wendy Troxel the celebrated sleep and behavioral scientist whose book, Sharing the Covers: Every Couple's Guide to Better Sleep , highlights the significant impact of sleep on relationships. Revealing that 61% of adults sleep with a partner, Dr. Troxel emphasizes the often-overlooked social aspect of sleep and its implications for couple dynamics. As she notes, sleep arrangements have...
Jul 29, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 78
Matt and Dr. Eti Ben Simon are back today to answer more of your excellent questions with their latest AMA installment - #8! They begin by delving into the intriguing world of lucid dreaming, explaining how it enables dreamers to become aware and even control their dreams, and move on to discussing the scientific methods used to study lucid dreaming, such as using eye movements as a form of Morse code to communicate with researchers. Through studies involving MRI scans, scientists have validated...
Jul 15, 2024•45 min
Matt continues his series on the impact of cannabis, THC, and CBD upon sleep this week with an examination into the intricacies of cannabidiol (CBD), which, unlike its psychoactive counterpart THC, does not induce a high but is recognized for its potential therapeutic effects. While studies suggest that CBD may aid in alleviating anxiety, movement disorders, pain, and addiction, in this episode, our host focuses on exploring CBD's potential influence on sleep quality while examining its bio...
Jul 01, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 77
In this week’s intriguing episode, Matt delves into the topic of precognitive dreams, exploring the idea that some people can predict future events through their dreams. He explains that while this concept might seem appealing, it is actually a result of statistical chance. With around 8 billion people in the world each having multiple dreams per night, the sheer number of dreams increases the likelihood of coincidental matches between dreams and real-life events. Matt also discusses a groundbre...
Jun 18, 2024•26 min•Ep. 76
In this 7th installment of their AMA series, Matt Walker and Dr. Eti Ben Simon dive into strategies for improving deep non-REM sleep. They highlight the benefits of vigorous exercise, citing a study by Kaspar Vogt that shows how exercise enhances the quality and stability of deep sleep. Additionally, they discuss how temperature manipulations, like using high heat capacity mattresses, can also improve sleep quality. Interesting insights include findings that intense exercise can improve deep sle...
Jun 10, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 7
Dr. Chris Barnes, renowned Michael G. Foster Endowed Professor of Management at the Foster School of Business, University of Washington, returns to the podcast today to continue his discussion with Matt regarding sleep's impact on business productivity. This time around, Dr. Barnes shares research indicating that sleep-deprived leaders exhibit abusive supervision, reducing employee engagement and productivity. Exploring sleep's broader implications on corporate culture and economic per...
Jun 03, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 75
Matt continues his exploration into the intricate link between cannabis and sleep, focusing on THC in this second installment, beginning with a reminder to listeners of the historical insights from doctors like O'Shaughnessy and Clendinning in the 1800s regarding cannabis's sleep-inducing effects. He shifts to how THC affects sleep today, noting that while it initially reduces sleep onset time and early night awakenings, chronic use worsens sleep quality, leading to frequent disruption...
May 20, 2024•45 min•Ep. 74
Matt and Eti team up again today for another entertaining and informative AMA episode. This time around, they dive into the intriguing world of lunar cycles and their potential influence on sleep patterns and dreams. From ancient beliefs to modern scientific findings, our duo unpacks the subtle yet fascinating impact of the moon. They then go on to explore the calming effects of weighted blankets on children and adults alike, revealing how deep touch pressure therapy enhances sleep quality and e...
May 13, 2024•50 min
Dr. Chris Barnes from the University of Washington's Foster School of Business joins Matt to discuss the often overlooked importance of sleep in boosting workplace productivity and ethical decision-making. Together, they delve into how sleep deprivation affects job performance, the impact sufficient sleep has on business environments and organizational success, and the hidden costs of sleep loss. Dr. Barnes presents compelling evidence on how businesses can use sleep as a strategic asset to...
May 06, 2024•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 73
Matt introduces his series examining the complex relationship between sleep and cannabis, exploring both the historical context and contemporary scientific perspectives. The narrative begins with Dr. W.B. O'Shaughnessy's canine experiments in 1849, tracing the evolution to the foundational work on cannabis for sleep conducted by Drs. Clendinning and Bradbury. Despite anecdotal reports suggesting cannabis enhances sleep, the scenario is complicated by factors such as regulatory constrai...
Apr 22, 2024•39 min•Ep. 72
This week, Matt dives deep into the complexities of REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD), a condition where individuals physically act out their dreams due to the absence of normal muscle paralysis during REM sleep. He meticulously breaks down the mechanisms of normal REM sleep, where the brainstem induces muscle atonia to prevent dream enactment, contrasting it with the failure of this system in RBD cases. Further expanding on the topic, Matt explores the etiology, diagnosis, treatment options, an...
Apr 08, 2024•43 min•Ep. 71
Eti is back for another AMA episode with Matt to answer questions that have been submitted over the last little while. Today’s installment dives into a number of topics including the intricate relationship between sleep and pregnancy, exploring how sleep disturbances impact pregnant women and the postnatal period. Additionally, the hormone prolactin, essential for milk production, is highlighted for its sleep-promoting benefits during the postnatal phase, illustrating nature's intricate bal...
Apr 01, 2024•1 hr0
In today's podcast episode, Matt welcomes back Dr. Michael Gradisar to delve into the evolving understanding of screens and sleep. Initially holding the belief in the detrimental effect of screen light on sleep, Matt finds this notion challenged by Dr. Gradisar's research, which emphasizes a more nuanced perspective. Their discussion highlights the shift from simplistic concerns about screen use to acknowledging the multifaceted influences on sleep, including content and individual dif...
Mar 25, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 70
Matt explores menopause and sleep disturbances today, noting the impact of hormonal changes, including a drop in estrogen and progesterone, and the role of hot flashes in disturbed sleep. He enumerates different types of sleep impairments related to menopause such as insomnia, sleep-disordered breathing, restless leg syndrome, and various sleep stage disruptions. Treatment options are discussed, with an emphasis on hormone replacement therapy, though controversy surrounding this approach is ackn...
Mar 11, 2024•23 min•Ep. 69
It’s another AMA episode and Dr. Eti Ben Simon returns to not only share some of her own sleep routines, but also to help listeners gain a rare insight into Matt's personal sleep habits as they respond to a listener’s query. Renowned for not sharing much, if anything, regarding what he considers his “boring” self, Matt is coaxed into offering a candid exploration of his bedtime routines, shedding light on both his successes and challenges in achieving optimal rest. From his dedication to re...
Mar 04, 2024•35 min0
Matt Walker welcomes his dear friend, the epic sleep researcher and clinician, Dr. Michael Gradisar, to the podcast to join him in exploring the profound influence of light on sleep quality. Dr. Gradisar's groundbreaking research and clinical proficiency in pediatric sleep disorders and circadian rhythm disruptions have reshaped the field, guiding both scientific comprehension and practical interventions. His conversation with Matt here today delves into the intricate interplay among light ...
Feb 26, 2024•44 min•Ep. 68
This week, Matt explores the intricate connection between sleep and weight, shedding light on the alarming reality of how inadequate sleep contributes to weight gain. He emphasizes the staggering correlation between the rise in obesity rates and the decline in sleep duration over the past six decades, backed by meta-analyses showcasing the significant associations between insufficient sleep and heightened obesity risk. Our host delves into experimental studies revealing how sleep deprivation dis...
Feb 12, 2024•25 min•Ep. 67
Dr. Eti Ben Simone is back with Matt Walker to delve into a range of intriguing topics surrounding sleep, circadian rhythms, and the impact of shift work on our health, all within the engaging context of today’s installment of their increasingly popular Ask Me Anything (AMA) sessions. Their conversation begins by exploring the intriguing link between the APOEε4 genotype and sleep disturbances, particularly concerning Alzheimer's disease. It's noteworthy that individuals carrying the AP...
Feb 05, 2024•1 hr 7 min
Matt’s back this week to delve into the intriguing phenomenon known as Exploding Head Syndrome (EHS). A genuine and significant sleep disorder, EHS is part of the broader category of parasomnias, which includes various sleep-related disorders like night terrors and sleepwalking. The core experience of EHS involves patients perceiving sudden, loud, and shocking noises, akin to explosions or gunshots, as they are either falling asleep or waking up from sleep. These hallucinations are distressing, ...
Jan 29, 2024•24 min•Ep. 66
In this second installment of their fascinating conversation together, Matt Walker and Michael Grandner continue their discussion regarding the crucial role of sleep in the lives of athletes. Together they delve into the unique challenges athletes face, such as irregular schedules, early mornings, late-night competitions, and travel across time zones, all of which can disrupt their sleep patterns. Dr. Grandner emphasizes the need for athletes to "bank sleep" by ensuring they get suffic...
Jan 15, 2024•40 min•Ep. 65
In this week’s episode, Dr. Michael Grandner joins Matt to explore the critical role of sleep in athletic performance. Together, they emphasize that sleep is not just about physical rest but also plays a significant role in mental performance, decision-making, and motivation. Dr. Grandner discusses how sleep is essential for various aspects of athletic success, including physical performance, mental performance, recovery, and mental health. He highlights that sleep isn't just a passive acti...
Jan 01, 2024•34 min•Ep. 64
In this podcast, Matt explores the fascinating topic of yawning. He begins by pointing out that although we all yawn and assume it's a sign of sleepiness, science hasn't provided a definitive answer regarding its purpose. Matt delves into the etymology of the word "yawn" and describes the five distinct steps involved in the yawning reflex, shedding light on its physiological process. Matt then introduces three leading scientific theories explaining why we yawn. The first theo...
Dec 18, 2023•23 min•Ep. 63
Matt's back, and this time he's tackling the perennial debate: Is the snooze button a friend or foe when it comes to your sleep and overall health? He shines a spotlight on an intriguing study led by Dr. Tina Sundelin and her team - one that challenges our conventional wisdom about snooze buttons. Surprisingly, their research reveals that snooze button usage is quite common, especially among night owls and younger folks. What's even more unexpected is that snoozing may not have th...
Dec 04, 2023•27 min•Ep. 62
