People are more likely to donate money to charity if they have had a good night’s sleep, research shows
- The likelihood of you giving money to charity is determined by how well you slept
- Good sleep quality is defined as being able to fall asleep quickly and stay asleep
We all have days when we feel particularly generous, while on other occasions we may prefer to keep our money to ourselves.
Research shows that your likelihood of giving money to charity can be determined by how well you slept the night before.
Researchers from the University of Bern, in Switzerland, recruited 54 adults for their study of “prosocial behavior”: actions people take to benefit others.
The participants’ brain activity was measured using electrodes during a normal night’s sleep and the next day they took part in a game.
During the game they were given points equivalent to real money and asked to decide whether they wanted to keep it or contribute some of it to the ‘public good’.
Research shows that your likelihood of giving money to charity could be determined by how well you slept the night before (stock image)
Those with higher slow-wave sleep activity – which represents deeper sleep – were more likely to donate the money they received, the results showed.
This brain activity was recorded in the right temporal lobe, which is related to thinking about the perspectives of others.
Interestingly, the length of time the participants slept did not seem to affect their decisions during the game – only the quality of their sleep.
Writing in the Journal of Neuroscience, the team said: ‘Prosocial behavior is crucial to keeping our society together.
‘These findings contribute to the emerging framework explaining the link between sleep and prosocial behavior by shedding light on the underlying mechanisms.’
We all have days when we feel particularly generous, while on other occasions we may prefer to keep our money to ourselves (stock image)
Good sleep quality is usually defined as being able to fall asleep quickly – within 15 minutes – and staying asleep without waking up too often during the night.
People who get a good night’s sleep are more likely to report feeling rested and refreshed all day, and say they are satisfied with the sleep they get each night.
Previous research conducted by scientists at the University of Calgary also found that there is a “significant relationship” between an individual’s sleep quality and their ability to feel empathy for others.