A lack of quality sleep can diminish our ability to empathize. Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley uncovered this link between sleep and empathy.
People have long recognized the benefits of a good night’s sleep. Now researchers are exploring its impact on our capacity for compassion. The study, reported by BBC Science Focus, concluded that insufficient or poor-quality sleep reduces the desire to help others. Without adequate nighttime rest, people tend to become more selfish, which harms their social interactions.
In the first phase of the study, researchers placed a group of 24 healthy adult volunteers in a functional MRI (fMRI) scanner. They scanned the volunteers after a full eight hours of sleep, and then again after the participants had stayed awake all night. The scans showed that the brain regions responsible for empathy became less active after sleep deprivation.
In the second phase, the researchers asked 100 volunteers to report on the quality of their sleep, focusing particularly on the number of awakenings throughout the night. The researchers then assessed the participants’ willingness to perform certain tasks, such as holding the elevator door open for a stranger.
The team found that as sleep quality declined, willingness to help others dropped. Seventy-eight percent of participants who reported poor sleep were less likely to lend a helping hand.
They also found that in areas that switch to daylight saving time, charitable donations drop by 10 percent compared with regions that don’t make the change.
Thus, quality sleep significantly influences our readiness to be compassionate and helpful. The researchers say that if a person neglects their mental health and emotional reserves, they cannot care for others.
Why Empathy Matters
In a paper published in PLOS Biology, the team described empathy as a fundamental human trait, one of the most powerful forces that has shaped modern civilizations.
The ability to empathize is a barometer of how we treat others. Empathy is essential for building and maintaining relationships. The team says this trait is crucial for our mental and emotional well-being. Empathy is the glue that binds societies and communities together.
