Delayed Start Time Essay

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Located in the cortex of the brain and forming the folding outer layer, gray matter encourages brain growth; however, different parts of the cortex mature faster than others (National Institute of Mental Health, 2011). For example, areas that control basic functions such as movement and processing information taken in by the senses develop first, and those with more complex purposes, such as controlling impulses and planning ahead, develop later (National Institute of Mental Health, 2011). Without sufficient sleep, these areas cannot properly develop, and sleep is central to psychological and physiological development. Adolescents sleep later and wake up later due to the changes occurring in their circadian rhythms (Minges, Redeker, 2015). …show more content…

For children in modern society, sleep seems to be an afterthought, where school and extra-curricular activities “should” take precedent over physical health. The delayed starting time theory involves pushing the starting time back 25 to 60 minutes, which would increase the total sleep-time for most adolescents anywhere from 25 to 77 minutes of sleep per weeknight. Syncing the sleep schedule with the physiological circadian rhythm is a pivotal part of normal growth and development in childhood and adolescence, especially regarding the brain. Mental ability, alertness, learning capacity, and overall daytime functioning may benefit from improved sleep, as disrupted sleep-wake cycles and restricted sleep also have consequences on the kidneys and the cardiovascular, digestive, thermoregulatory, and endocrine systems (Minges, Redeker,

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