After-school special: What do roaches and students have in common?
Their ability to learn may be determined by their biological clocks, according to a study by Vanderbilt University and published online last week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
In the study, cockroaches were found to be better able to take in new information at night, when they are naturally more active. Similar studies of human behavior found that learning skills were weaker at certain times of the day.
According to Terry L. Page, the professor of biological sciences who directed the project:
“Studies like this suggest that time of day can have a profound impact, at least in certain situations. By studying the way the biological clock modulates learning and memory we may learn more about how these processes take place and what can influence them.”
If you're interested learning more about this study, you can see a multimedia presentation at Vanderbilt University's online research mag. Take a look at whatever time of day you feel smartest.