An experiment by American scientists showed that if a person drinks alcohol every time before going to bed, sleep changes persist for several nights. Therefore the dream did not adapt.

Drinking a glass of wine before going to bed after a tiring day at work is a familiar ritual for many modern people, including those who have difficulty falling asleep. But as a study by neurologists from Brown University and the Sleep Laboratory at EP Bradley Hospital in Providence (USA) showed, drinking alcohol at night significantly affects the structure of sleep by reducing the rapid eye movement (REM) phase. An article containing the results was published in the journal To sleep.

The authors of the first studies also concluded that alcohol consumption has a bad effect on sleep quality, even if it reduces the latent time to fall asleep. However, the effect of night rest on its structure is still not sufficiently investigated. For example, there remained a “cumulative effect” if a person drank several nights in a row.

To understand this, American scientists conducted an experiment. 30 adults (15 men and 15 women) aged between 31 and 47 participated in the competition. They slept eight hours each in the laboratory over three nights, and researchers monitored their brain activity. The test was repeated twice (three days apart) but with different drinks for each subject. Non-alcoholic or alcoholic cocktails were offered to participants 45 minutes before the start. The light was turned off 15 minutes after the person went to bed.

To analyze the data, scientists used mixed-effects linear models and generalized additive models. As a result, it was determined that alcohol shortened the REM sleep phase (rapid eye movement phase, REM phase) and increased the duration of slow wave sleep (Slow wave sleep). The body did not adapt to the effects of alcohol: the changes were the same with repeated use as if for the first time.

Although participants were able to fall asleep faster after drinking alcohol, the quality of their sleep worsened: During the REM phase, which occupies 25-30 percent of the entire sleep period, a person experiences vivid dreams and basic cognitive skills improve. The brain processes the emotions experienced during the day. and organizes information. Additionally, the REM sleep phase activates the central nervous system and helps prepare for awakening.

“Our data showed that drinking alcohol before bed significantly affects sleep patterns, including changes in REM and REM sleep. <…> Therefore, the use of alcohol as a sleeping pill remains a public health problem.”