Hadza sleep biology: Evidence for flexible sleep-wake patterns in hunter-gatherers.

David R SamsonAlyssa N CrittendenIbrahim A MabullaAudax Z P MabullaCharles L Nunn

Published in: American journal of physical anthropology (2017)

This study showed that circadian rhythms in small-scale foraging populations are more entrained to their ecological environments than Western populations. Additionally, Hadza sleep is characterized as flexible, with a consistent early morning sleep period yet reliance upon opportunistic daytime napping. We propose that plasticity in sleep-wake patterns has been a target of natural selection in human evolution.

Keyphrases

sleep quality
physical activity
endothelial cells
depressive symptoms
obstructive sleep apnea
climate change
south africa
risk assessment
human health
genetic diversity