The perfect alarm clock: what tune will set the right mood for the day

The perfect alarm clock: what tune will set the right mood for the day

Scientists have found out what music is better to wake up to.

A person’s well-being during the day depends not only on the quality of sleep, but also on the sound of the alarm clock. Scientists at the Royal Melbourne University of Technology in the course of a study found out what melodies contribute to a comfortable awakening and help to ensure a high level of productivity.

Why does waking up properly affect well-being?

The original subject of the study was sleep inertia. This is the state of a person between the moments when they open their eyes and when they finally wake up. Everyone has experienced sleep inertia. For example, you wake up because of a sudden noise and for a few seconds you can not realize what is happening around you and come to your senses. Sleep inertia is inertia and lack of awareness of what is happening.

This state can last for several minutes or several hours. All this time a person feels sluggish, unproductive, takes a long time to make decisions, often not fully realizing the situation. Scientists from Melbourne have established a connection between the duration of inertia and the sound of the alarm clock.

How are alarm clock melody and proper waking up connected?

As part of the experiment, 50 volunteers recorded their state after waking up and also indicated the melody of their alarm clock. The researchers found that the tempo, volume, duration and tone of the ringtone had no effect on the feeling of vigor. But the duration of sleep inertia depended on the melody.

Participants whose alarm clocks emitted harsh melodies felt lethargic and sleepy significantly more often and for longer than volunteers with more harmonious ring tones. The more melodic and rhythmic the alarms were, the more easily people woke up. They also felt better and much more productive throughout the day.

What’s the point?

Scientists believe that melodic ringtones do not disrupt normal brain function and allow the body to move more quickly to a state of wakefulness. Therefore, in order to be more efficient during the day, it is worth replacing the siren sound with a rhythmic melody.

This fact should especially be taken into account by emergency workers, on whose rapid awakening depends on making important decisions. Scientists cite Good Vibrations by The Beach Boys and Close to Me by The Cure as examples of good alarm clocks.