Sleep could give players an edge in the Super Bowl

+ like moths to a flame. But why? US Edition - Today's top story: Sleep can give athletes an edge over competitors − but few recognize how fundamental sleep is to performance [View in browser]( US Edition | 31 January 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [Connecting with body sensations can reduce risk of suicide]( - [Crying men is something right-on in the state of Denmark]( - [How ‘Jaws’ helped hook a generation of shark researchers]( Lead Story Much has been made of the stunning plays in Sunday’s NFL playoff games that propelled San Francisco and Kansas City to the Super Bowl. Fans looked on in wonder as 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk made a miraculous catch, while sportscasters waxed lyrical at the precision of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ impeccable throws. Fewer sports fans, presumedly, pondered what role a good night’s rest may have played in these men’s on-field prowess. Too little attention is given to one key strategy that could [give these high-performance athletes an edge]( over their rivals: sleep. Healthy sleep patterns before the big game could make all the difference when it comes to quick thinking, split-second reaction times, lower risk of injuries and more, explains sleep medicine neurologist Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse from the University of Pittsburgh. “Success as an athlete is about more than just physical training and tactical preparedness,” she writes. “It’s also about harnessing the power of sleep for optimal performance.” [ [Science from the scientists themselves. Sign up for our weekly science email newsletter.]( ] Amanda Mascarelli Senior Health and Medicine Editor Sleep has been an underappreciated strategy for gaining an edge over an opponent at any level of athletic competition. AP Photo/Alex Brandon [Sleep can give athletes an edge over competitors − but few recognize how fundamental sleep is to performance]( Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, University of Pittsburgh Studies show college athletes sleeping less than 7 hours per night are almost twice as likely to be injured when compared with athletes sleeping more than 8 hours. 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Logan, Kennesaw State University; Jennifer Carson, University of Central Missouri The death of a protester in 2023 at the site of the proposed Atlanta Public Safety Training Center has brought renewed attention to radical environmentalism in the United States. Education - [How Black male college athletes deal with anti-Black stereotypes on campus]( Jonathan Howe, Temple University Black male athletes at Division I schools say they alter their speech, dress and other behaviors to gain acceptance in mostly white academic and athletic settings. - [This course examines how conflicts arise over borders]( Nita Prasad, Quinnipiac University Religious, racial and class-based differences often get politicized. Health + Medicine - [Eating disorders are the most lethal mental health conditions – reconnecting with internal body sensations can help reduce self-harm]( April Smith, Auburn University Many people with eating disorders die from suicide. 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