In the News

Philip Gehrman, PhD, an associate professor of clinical Psychology in Psychiatry, joined Giz Asks to share ways people can get a better night's sleep. "The tips that I always give people are about routine and regularity. It’s trying to follow a regular schedule. A regular wake-up time seems to be more important than a regular bedtime but just trying to be consistent. That’s always the hardest to sell when I say that I mean weekends, too." Tags: Gizmodo philip_gehrman sleep_medicine psychiatry circadian_rhythm communications_placement EH fy26 2026 Q4 April

Pink noise, which is often used to promote sleep, may reduce restorative REM sleep and interfere with sleep recovery. In contrast, earplugs were found to be significantly more effective in protecting sleep against traffic noise, according to a study led by Mathias Basner, MD, PhD, professor of Sleep and Chronobiology in Psychiatry. Tags: psy_post pink_noise sleep_medicine mathias_basner psychiatry chronobiology press_release communications_placement EH FY26 2026 Q3 March

Sleep position is just one of many factors that contributes to overall sleep quality. According to Indira Gurubhagavatula, MD, MPH, a professor of Sleep Medicine, while there is no single "right" way to sleep, maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, getting adequate exercise and keeping your bedroom dark and cool are all important. But, she added, if getting a good night’s sleep can be “as simple as turning onto your side, then why not try it?” Tags: new_york_times top_tier sleep_medicine indira_gurubhagavatula psychiatry EH FY26 2026 Q3 March

Research led by Mathias Basner, MD, PhD, professor of Sleep and Chronobiology in Psychiatry, is cited in a piece on the various types of broadband noise colors. The study found that pink noise, often promoted as a sleep aid, may negatively affect brain activity and essential sleep stages. Tags: popular_science sleep_medicine psychiatry chronobiology mathias_basner pink_noise communications_placement press_release EH FY26 FY2026 Q3 March

Many people turn to sleep aids or have a drink to relax before bed. Though alcohol may help to relax, but as the alcohol burns off in the middle of the night, "your brain is now dealing with the withdrawal of alcohol, so it goes to a lighter stage of sleep," said Indira Gurubhagavatula, MD, MPH, a professor of Sleep Medicine. "You then wake up and could feel still tired or in a fog...so it's not really effective in the long-term." Tags: yoga_with_jake sleep_medicine indira_gurubhagavatula alcohol EH FY26 2026 Q3 March

Much of the advice about improving sleep focuses on what to do shortly before you go to bed but good sleep can be helped by habits that start right when you wake up. That includes potentially adjusting the schedule of certain drugs, particularly those that have stimulating effects that may make it harder to fall or stay sleep. According to Indira Gurubhagavatula, MD, MPH, a professor of Sleep Medicine, these include decongestants like phenylephrine and pseudoephedrine; certain ADHD. and asthma medications; antidepressants like fluoxetine (Prozac) and bupropion (Wellbutrin); and oral steroids like prednisone. Tags: new_york_times top_tier sleep_medicine indira_gurubhagavatula EH FY26 2026 Q3 March

Goes with Axios clip Tags: Huffington_Post communications_placement press_release mathias_basner psychiatry sleep_medicine chronobiology pink_noise EH FY26 2026 Q3 March

Pink noise, often used to mask environmental sound and induce sleep, might actually reduce REM sleep, a new study in the journal Sleep suggests. The study, led by Mathias Basner, MD, PhD, professor of Sleep and Chronobiology in Psychiatry, observed 25 healthy adults in a lab, sleeping along with different combinations of aircraft noise, pink noise and earplugs. Tags: axios communications_placement press_release mathias_basner sleep_medicine psychiatry pink_noise chronobiology EH FY26 2026 Q3 March

A new study raises questions about the use of “pink noise” devices, which are common among those seeking to improve sleep quality. According to the research, led by Mathias Basner, MD, PhD, professor of Sleep and Chronobiology in Psychiatry, sounds perceived as calming and sleep-promoting may negatively affect brain activity and essential sleep stages. Tags: Jerusalem_post mathias_basner psychiatry sleep_medicine pink_noise press_release communications_placement EH FY26 2026 Q3 March

Without enough sleep, the brain suffers, and long-term sleep problems have been linked to a higher risk of dementia. One theory is that sleep gives the brain time to clean itself up, allowing immune cells to clear away damaged fats that could otherwise become toxic. That’s the idea being studied by Amita Sehgal, MD, vice chair of Neuroscience, and director of the Chronobiology Program, who use fruit flies to better understand how sleep protects the brain. Tags: the_naked_scientist amita_sehgal sleep_medicine chronobiology neuroscience dementia EH FY26 2026 Q3 March

Sleep disorders affect an estimated 50-70 million American, and the first step toward better treatment depends on an accurate diagnosis, said Michael Perlis, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry and director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program. Perlis has been involved in the development of the Sleep Health Screener, an initiative designed to improve recognition of sleep disorders through structured patient self-assessment. Tags: Medscape sleep_medicine psychiatry michael_perlis communications_placement EH FY26 2026 Q3 February

A new Penn study suggests certain noises promoted to support sleep may be more harmful than we thought. Mathias Basner, MD, PhD, professor of Sleep and Chronobiology in Psychiatry found that pink noise reduces REM sleep. This deep stage of sleep usually starting 90 minutes after falling asleep and is particularly associated with emotional regulation, learning and neurodevelopment. Tags: WHYY_radio regional_philadelphia mathias_basner psychiatry sleep_medicine chronobiology communications_placement press_release pink_noise EH FY26 2026 Q3 February

Think your sound machine is helping you sleep? It might be doing the opposite. A new study led by Mathias Basner, MD, PhD, professor of Sleep and Chronobiology in Psychiatry found that listening to pink noise at bedtime could disturb REM sleep (dream sleep) and sleep recovery. "While pink noise might mask external disruptions, it introduces a constant stimulus that the brain still has to process," Basner said. "The most concerning finding is that we may be unknowingly sacrificing segments of our REM sleep." Tags: Fox_News mathias_basner sleep_medicine chronobiology psychiatry communications_placement press_release pink_noise EH FY26 2026 Q3 February

Goes with The Conversation Summary (Podcast title is "The Last Show") Tags: the_last_show sleep_medicine psychiatry chronobiology communications_placement press_release mathias_basner podcast EH FY26 2026 Q3 February

Pink noise—often used to promote sleep—may reduce restorative REM sleep and interfere with sleep recovery. In contrast, earplugs were found to be significantly more effective in protecting sleep against traffic noise, according to a new study led by Mathias Basner, MD, PhD, professor of Sleep and Chronobiology in Psychiatry. Tags: the_conversation mathias_basner sleep_medicine psychiatry chronobiology pink_noise communications_placement press_release EH FY26 2026 Q3 February