Can Wearing Orange-Tinted Glasses before Bed Improve Sleep? Only One Way to Find Out…

By: Jordan Gaines Lewis, 5th year PhD candidate in the Neuroscience Graduate Program In March, I wrote about the terrible sleep habits of the characters in House of Cards. I disapproved of Frank Underwood’s late-night computer work in the Oval Office, his new midnight iPad gaming habit, and Claire taking her laptop to bed with her. But I … Continue reading Can Wearing Orange-Tinted Glasses before Bed Improve Sleep? Only One Way to Find Out…

Reverse Seasonal Affective Disorder: People who get SAD in the Summer

By: Lina Jamis, 2nd year student in the Anatomy Graduate Program Snow-lovers rejoice—winter is coming! And no, this isn’t an allusion to Game of Thrones. With the end of Daylight Savings, the days are becoming darker earlier, which for some can mean the onset of the winter blues. The medical term for this is Seasonal Affective Disorder … Continue reading Reverse Seasonal Affective Disorder: People who get SAD in the Summer

Alcohol, Sleep, and Why You Might Re-think that Nightcap

By: Jordan Gaines Lewis, 3rd year PhD candidate in the Neuroscience Program "Alcohol makes you sleepy." We've all heard it. Many of us have experienced it. A few of us even swear by it—enough to ceremonially partake in a glass or two of wine before crawling into bed. A nightcap. In fact, a little booze … Continue reading Alcohol, Sleep, and Why You Might Re-think that Nightcap

Sleep Cycle Apps: Precise, or Placebo?

By: Jordan Gaines Lewis, 3rd year PhD candidate in the Neuroscience Program Thanks to the Internet, it's the age of self-diagnosis. People like to learn about (and treat) themselves through technology. Especially when pretty graphs are involved (see fancy screenshot at left). As a sleep researcher, I was interested in my friends' use of sleep-tracking … Continue reading Sleep Cycle Apps: Precise, or Placebo?

Getting a Sleep Study: What’s All That Stuff They Put on Me?!

By: Jordan Gaines, 2nd year PhD candidate in the Neuroscience Graduate Program Have you ever had a sleep study done? Perhaps you or a loved one has been referred to a sleep clinic for insomnia, apnea, narcolepsy, or restless legs syndrome. Maybe you’ve participated in a sleep research study—and if you’re in central Pennsylvania, you may even … Continue reading Getting a Sleep Study: What’s All That Stuff They Put on Me?!