People Who Sleep Late Exhibit Higher Mental Capacity than Early Risers, Imperial College Study Reveals

In a revelation that challenges long-held beliefs about productivity and intelligence, a new study from Imperial College, London has found that people who stay up late often referred to as “night owls” tend to outperform early risers in key cognitive tasks.

The research, which analyzed data from over 26,000 participants, revealed that individuals with a preference for later sleep schedules showed superior mental performance in areas such as reasoning, memory, and processing speed.

The study, conducted in collaboration with the UK Biobank and published in a peer-reviewed journal, offers one of the most comprehensive looks yet at how chronotype body’s natural inclination toward sleep and activity times affects brain function.

Lead researchers found that both night owls and those with intermediate chronotypes (neither extreme early birds nor extreme night owls) had better cognitive outcomes than early risers, also known as “morning larks.”

Participants completed a series of cognitive tests assessing attention span, numerical reasoning, and memory recall. Night owls consistently ranked higher, regardless of age or sex.

“Our findings challenge the conventional wisdom that waking up early automatically leads to higher performance or intelligence,” said Dr. Victoria Garfield, senior author of the study.

“Chronotype is a deeply ingrained biological trait, and some individuals are simply wired to function better later in the day.”

While bedtime preference had a strong correlation with cognitive ability, researchers noted that sleep quality and duration also played significant roles.

Optimal cognitive performance was associated with sleeping seven to nine hours per night. Those sleeping less or significantly more showed diminished mental sharpness.

Despite the groundbreaking findings, the researchers urged caution. The study relied heavily on self-reported data, and testing was not standardized for time of day potentially benefiting those naturally more alert during test hours.

Additionally, the study did not control for socioeconomic or educational background, both of which can influence cognitive test performance.

Still, the research could have major implications for workplaces, schools, and policymakers. It raises questions about whether traditional early schedules disadvantage a significant portion of the population.

“Instead of forcing everyone into a 9-to-5 mold, perhaps it’s time we start respecting individual biological rhythms,” Dr. Garfield added.

The stereotype of the early bird catching the worm may not be entirely dead, but it’s certainly been complicated. For night owls, this research offers long-awaited validation and for early risers, a reminder that success isn’t just about the hour you wake, but how well you function when you do.