Did you know that the alarm clock actually serves a greater purpose than simply rousing us from sleep? Whether it's the buzz of your smartphone, a breaking news update, or a soothing classical tune, your alarm sets the tone for the day ahead. And it can be quite the dilemma choosing between a jolting alarm which is guaranteed you wake you up or nature sounds that might end up lulling you back to sleep—or worse, not wake you up at all.

Sydney Aten is an American neuroscientist who specialises in circadian rhythms and sleep. Talking to HuffPost.com for an article on alarm sounds which was published in 2023, she pointed out that waking up abruptly can be quite jarring for the body. It triggers a real surge of adrenaline, a hormone which is typically released in response to intense emotions or sensations. Basically, waking up to a loud or piercing sound can spike our heart rate and induce stress.

What about using more neutral sounds then? What about hitting the snooze button - is that a good way to snag a few extra minutes of sleep? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

First Broadcast: 24/2/2024

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