2024-04-05 18:48:52
Waking up a few minutes before your alarm may seem like a mysterious phenomenon, but it is actually a completely natural phenomenon caused by our body clock. Our body has an internal clock that regulates circadian rhythms – physiological and behavioral changes throughout the day.
The New York Times writes about this.
A key player in this process is the suprachiasmatic nucleus, the brain structure that “winds” our biological clock. This internal clock strives for consistency and gets used to the time at which we usually wake up. Thus, when the time to awaken approaches, they trigger a cascade of reactions that prepare the body for awakening.
Special cells in our visual pathway detect changes in light levels and tell the body that wake-up time is approaching. This stimulates the release of the hormones cortisol and adrenocorticotropin, which prepare the body for activity.
Although this mechanism is not as accurate as an electronic alarm clock, it usually allows us to wake up either exactly at the appointed time or a few minutes before it. It’s important to note that if you wake up before your alarm and feel alert, this may indicate that your sleep schedule is in tune with your body’s rhythms.
Additionally, our body clock can help us wake up at unusual times, such as if we have an early event or need to get up earlier than usual. In this case, the hormones cortisol and adrenocorticotropin are also activated, helping us to wake up at the appointed moment.
Thus, waking up a few minutes before the alarm rings is a completely natural phenomenon associated with the work of our biological clock and the body’s preparation for awakening.
Cursor previously reported that changing clocks to daylight saving time is associated with an increased risk of cancer. Researchers often document that moving clocks forward an hour can seriously affect human health.