Have trouble sleeping in a new place? Most do because of the first-night effect

The first night spent in an unfamiliar location often results in a sleepless night for most people, according to sleep specialists. Robinson Leoni, a tech company sales director, experiences this phenomenon personally, reporting a significant decrease in sleep quality when traveling. While he typically averages seven hours of sleep at home, the first night away leaves him with about five hours of rest, according to his smartwatch.

This pattern is consistent with what researchers call the "first-night effect," a phenomenon that has been observed in numerous studies and is believed to have evolutionary roots. Anna Wick, a sleep researcher at the University of Freiburg in Switzerland, suggests that the brain remains vigilant during sleep in an unfamiliar environment, remaining alert to potential dangers.

This heightened state of awareness manifests in reduced sleep quality, with individuals sleeping approximately 20 to 30 minutes less in new environments. Ahmad Mayeli, a psychiatry professor and sleep researcher at the University of Pittsburgh, explains that the frontal lobe, responsible for the deepest stages of sleep, becomes more active during the first night, indicating a heightened sense of alertness.

This may explain why people not only sleep less but also less deeply during their first night in a new place. Mayeli notes that the impact of the first-night effect is more pronounced in children, adolescents, and older adults, becoming less significant as individuals age. The reason for this age-related variation remains unclear, but Mayeli suspects that the brain's heightened sensitivity in younger populations may be a vestige of ancient survival instincts that made unfamiliar environments potentially threatening.

While the first-night effect typically diminishes after the initial night, it can still pose challenges for those who travel frequently for work or leisure.