How does our sleeping body know when it’s time to wake up and how does it do it?
In: Biology
We have this thing called a “circadian rhythm”. Our bodies know approximately what time it is, and this estimate is constantly refined by being able to see when the sun rises and sets. This is what causes jet lag – your body’s circadian rhythm is thrown off, and it can’t get to sleep in time.
We have an internal biological clock called our circadian rhythm. Or circadian cycle.
Essentially at certain times of the day a part of our brain starts to secrete Melatonin, a chemical that bonds to parts of the Brain and makes us feel that “sleepy” feeling.
And then several hours later, that gland in our brains stop secreting melatonin, signaling your body to wake up.
This schedule isn’t set in stone and can actually be altered by new or irregular sleep patterns (which is why if you wake up for work at 7am, you might find yourself to naturally wake up around then without your alarm)
For how this rhythm keeps its time schedule, the theory is that it reacts to light changes (like the setting sun). Which is why people say the blue light released from so many electronics messes up our sleep because we aren’t getting that natural change in light.
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