For those of you who frequently travel to areas that have a time difference from residence, be careful. Jet lag which caused by time differences can cause difficulties in learning and disrupt memory.
Jet lag is the result of crossing several time zones in a short time. Every human being has a cycle of 24 hours each, called circadian rhythm. Usually this rhythm change every day, but only slightly.
When someone enters the time zone that is incompatible with that person’s circadian rhythm, it takes longer to reset the daily rhythm.
A study wanted to know the other effects caused by jet lag. They also conduct research involving hamsters, as quoted from health24.
Two times a week for one month, the hamster is doing the time zone changes as much as six hours or the same as a flight from New York to Paris. Over the last two weeks of jet lag and a month after cure themselves from jet lag, the performance of hamster on learning and memory were measured.
The result was as expected, during the period of jet lag, the hamster has a problem in learning. What surprised the researchers from the University of California, this is the problem lasted for a month after the circadian rhythm restored.
For people which like to vacation, the impact of jet lag is not too dangerous because the circadian rhythm will be back in a few days. You can also take melatonin pills to cure. The problem is those who repeatedly cross time zones, such as flight attendants, the impact will be more serious.
But it’s not just flight attendants who have problems with jet lag, people which work with shifting systems also have memory problems and learning.
Tags: Circadian Rhythm, Jet Lag, Time Zones
