5 ms·

In prehistoric times, before shelter was common, would a half or full moon cause the same effect? I just wonder about how actually natural a pitch black sleep

In prehistoric times, before shelter was common, would a half or full moon cause the same effect? I just wonder about how actually natural a pitch black sleep is.

Turing_Machine 9y ago
Perhaps that's where the legends about people going wonky at the time of the full moon came from? Werewolves, "lunatics", etc. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunatic https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunatic Just a speculation.
deleted 9y ago
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schiffern 9y ago
>I just wonder about how actually natural a pitch black sleep is. "Pitch black" is another thing entirely, but the moon is much dimmer than the light levels this study reports as causing depression (5 lux). And it's pretty dim (equivalent to stray light from a streetlamp). >The intensity of moonlight varies greatly depending on its phase, but even the full Moon typically provides only about 0.05–0.1 lux illumination https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moonlight https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moonlight
- Herodotus38 9y ago
  Thanks for putting it into perspective. 5 lux is quite a lot to me.
nkoren 9y ago
I've spent prolonged periods living away from artificial light. In such situations, the lunar cycle has a profound effect on your psychology and sociology. New moons are quiet times, and wildest parties happen at full moon. Makes me think that "lunatic" is probably a very, very, very ancient concept.
Nomentatus 9y ago
iPRGCs are scattered widely across the retina - presumably for just this reason, to quickly discount light from a full moon.
brianpan 9y ago
In prehistoric times, the possibility of the wolves and bears biting you actually had a bigger impact on restfulness than the moon.
thinkingemote 9y ago
Maybe monkeys or apes on the ground have thicker eyelids to block out the light? And do they sleep differently in general? http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20150415-apes-reveal-sleep-secrets http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20150415-apes-reveal-sleep-se... might shed some light (!) But I'd think that humans have always had shelter. Or is there evidence of communities sleeping out in the open?

In prehistoric times, before shelter was common, would a half or full moon cause the same effect? I just wonder about how actually natural a pitch black sleep is.

Turing_Machine 9y ago

Perhaps that's where the legends about people going wonky at the time of the full moon came from? Werewolves, "lunatics", etc. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunatic https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunatic Just a speculation.

deleted 9y ago

[deleted]

schiffern 9y ago

>I just wonder about how actually natural a pitch black sleep is. "Pitch black" is another thing entirely, but the moon is much dimmer than the light levels this study reports as causing depression (5 lux). And it's pretty dim (equivalent to stray light from a streetlamp). >The intensity of moonlight varies greatly depending on its phase, but even the full Moon typically provides only about 0.05–0.1 lux illumination https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moonlight https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moonlight

Herodotus38 9y ago
Thanks for putting it into perspective. 5 lux is quite a lot to me.

nkoren 9y ago

I've spent prolonged periods living away from artificial light. In such situations, the lunar cycle has a profound effect on your psychology and sociology. New moons are quiet times, and wildest parties happen at full moon. Makes me think that "lunatic" is probably a very, very, very ancient concept.

Nomentatus 9y ago

iPRGCs are scattered widely across the retina - presumably for just this reason, to quickly discount light from a full moon.

brianpan 9y ago

In prehistoric times, the possibility of the wolves and bears biting you actually had a bigger impact on restfulness than the moon.

thinkingemote 9y ago

Maybe monkeys or apes on the ground have thicker eyelids to block out the light? And do they sleep differently in general? http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20150415-apes-reveal-sleep-secrets http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20150415-apes-reveal-sleep-se... might shed some light (!) But I'd think that humans have always had shelter. Or is there evidence of communities sleeping out in the open?