Super common habit is keeping your brain awake while you sleep even when you do it hours before bed

Late-night scrolling isn’t the only thing sabotaging your slumber.New research suggests that a common daily habit may send your brain into overdrive while you sleep — even if you do it hours before bedtime.Scientists warn the disruption could interfere with the brain’s overnight recovery processes, potentially taking a toll on your cognitive health.In the study, Canadian researchers had 40 healthy adults spend two nonconsecutive nights in a sleep lab.On one night, participants consumed 200 milligrams of caffeine — the equivalent of about two cups of coffee — a few hours before bed.On the other, they were given a placebo.While most people know caffeine can make it harder to fall asleep, researchers used EEG scans to track brain activity after participants dozed off and found it kept their brains in a heightened state of alertness long after they shut their eyes.They found, for the first time, that the stimulant pushed the brain into a state of “criticality,” making it more awake, alert and reactive than it should be while catching Zzz’s.“While this is useful during the day for concentration, this state could interfere with rest at night: the brain would neither relax nor recover properly,” said Dr.

Julie Carrier, a psychology professor at the University of Montreal and co-author of the study.The team used artificial intelligence to detect subtle changes in neuronal activity and found that caffeine increased the complexity of brain signals, preventing the brain from fully powering down during sleep.The effect was especially strong during non-REM sleep — the deep stage critical for memory and cognitive recovery.Researchers also observed changes in brain wave patterns.Slow waves linked to deep, restorative rest were reduced, while faster waves associated with wakefulness and mental activity increased.“These changes suggest that even during sleep, the brain remains in a more activated, less restorative state under the influence of caffeine,” s...