The study's findings support ongoing discussions about school start times and the impact of technology on adolescent sleep habits.

The research tracked sleep patterns of over 3,200 American teenagers aged 11 to 12 using FitBit devices, revealing three distinct sleep profiles linked to cognitive abilities.

A recent study published in 'Cell Reports' on April 23, 2025, reveals that even small differences in sleep duration can significantly affect cognitive performance in adolescents.

Co-author Barbara Sahakian from the University of Cambridge found it surprising that minor differences in sleep could have such profound effects, indicating cumulative benefits over time.

Adolescents were categorized into groups with average sleep durations of 7 hours 10 minutes, 7 hours 21 minutes, and 7 hours 25 minutes, with the longest-sleeping group outperforming others in vocabulary, reading, problem-solving, and attention tests.

Professor Barbara Sahakian from the University of Cambridge emphasized the importance of sleep for proper brain function during adolescence, a critical developmental phase.

Sleep-related differences in brain structure and cognitive performance persisted over time, with effects observed from ages 11-12 continuing two years later.

Even small differences in sleep duration, averaging just over 15 minutes, were linked to significant variances in brain structure and cognitive performance.

Timing of sleep was also crucial; the best-performing group went to bed earlier and had lower heart rates, indicating better sleep quality, while poorer performers had later bedtimes and higher heart rates.

Dr. Qing Ma emphasized that while the study does not definitively establish a causal relationship between sleep and cognitive performance, existing research supports the notion that adequate sleep enhances memory and learning.

The study utilized objective sleep data from FitBits instead of self-reports, enhancing the reliability of the findings.

Researchers aim to explore factors influencing sleep patterns in adolescents, such as video game use or natural body clock variations, to address the trend of late bedtimes and insufficient sleep.