How Scientists Want to Trick Your Jet-Lagged Body Into Feeling Sleepy Essay Example
How Scientists Want to Trick Your Jet-Lagged Body Into Feeling Sleepy Essay Example

How Scientists Want to Trick Your Jet-Lagged Body Into Feeling Sleepy Essay Example

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  • Pages: 2 (336 words)
  • Published: October 25, 2018
  • Type: Case Study
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Upon arriving at your destination for a vital business meeting, you discover that it is already late due to the long distance travel.

Travelers may struggle to unwind upon checking into their hotel due to the effects of flight and time differences. Though it may be nighttime at their destination, it could still be midday in their home country. To address this issue, scientists from Nagoya University who specialize in studying circadian rhythms in mammals are devising new methods for regulating the proteins responsible for maintaining sleep. These innovative approaches go beyond traditional remedies such as consuming wine or taking Ambien.


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Research in Japan has led to the development of synthetic molecules that target specific proteins within the body. These molecules can speed up the natural cycle of protein function, which is constantly maintained throughout the day in a balancing act.

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This technology could benefit not only frequent travelers, but also night-shift workers and individuals with sleep disorders, all of whom are at risk for various health issues due to irregular sleep patterns. Unlike current sleep treatments that rely on manipulating light perception, this new approach aims to reset the body's biological clock.

Although further testing is needed before the new protein-blocking method can be used by regular business travelers, the researchers behind the study have a grander goal. "We hope to explore synthetic chemistry further to produce bioactive molecules that can regulate animal circadian rhythms and provide more insight into the circadian clock mechanism," says Takashi Yoshimura, one of the study's authors. This will undoubtedly aid in medical applications, food production, and advancements in clock research.

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In Japanese culture, many people take

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pride in functioning without a full night's sleep. Spontaneous napping, or inemuri, is common. However, inemuri is not frowned upon as laziness or social disgrace. Would you consider experimenting with your body chemistry for better sleep or improved health if it meant being able to nap amidst an alternative work schedule? Share your thoughts on inemuri and more.

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