You must have already noticed that there is nothing more pleasant than having a good night's sleep in your own bed. Conversely, we have less good sleep when we find ourselves in an unknown place and bed. But why ? According to the results of a study published Thursday, April 21 in the journal Current Biology spotted by Le Temps , it is more difficult to fall asleep in an unfamiliar place:later bedtime, less sleep time... This is the "first night effect", a defense mechanism put in place by our brain ! American researchers at Brown University have found that during a first night in a new environment, the two hemispheres of the brain do not have the same activity.
A sleep specialist interviewed by Le Temps compares “the first night effect” to animal behavior:“Cetaceans such as dolphins or whales as well as certain birds have their cerebral hemispheres which sleep alternately. Cetaceans must breathe air at the surface of the water voluntarily – unlike humans. Part of their brain must always be awake, to be able to swim to the surface and trigger voluntary breathing”. Clearly, our brain automatically goes into a state of vigilance when we sleep in an unusual place and therefore less secure for us.
But don't panic, this phenomenon fades over time, so the more you travel, the more you will adapt to the changes, and therefore the better you will sleep. Besides, have you ever noticed the importance of your personal pillow when you go on vacation? Yes, according to Medical News Today , using your own pillow when you change places has a reassuring effect and reduces sleep disturbances. So you know what you have to do to sleep better on your next trip:bring a pillow or simply be patient!
