Sleep Metric

Wake after sleep onset (WASO)

Wake after sleep onset (WASO) is a measure of how much time you spend awake during the night after initially falling asleep, and it can significantly impact sleep quality and overall well-being. Several studies have explored WASO's effects on various aspects of health. For instance, in healthy older adults, higher WASO was associated with poorer sleep quality as measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Additionally, light therapy has been shown to reduce WASO in individuals with insomnia disorder, while evening exercise can increase it in healthy participants. Ashwagandha root extract demonstrated a reduction in WASO among both healthy volunteers and those with insomnia.

WASO is closely linked to sleep quality and emotional memory biases. Higher WASO levels have been found to moderate age-related changes in emotional memory processing, suggesting that poor sleep continuity may affect cognitive functions as we age. Despite these findings, the evidence on WASO's impact remains somewhat limited, particularly in specific populations such as surgical patients where sleep disturbances are prevalent but not always directly linked to WASO.

The studies reviewed here provide valuable insights into how WASO affects different aspects of health and well-being, though more research is needed to fully understand its mechanisms and implications.

Wake after sleep onset (WASO)

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