Why does rocking soothe people

And the new findings suggest the same is true in adults. Yet it was previously unknown whether or not the same is true in other species. The second study found that, at least in mice, it is. Like in the human study, rocking shortened the time it took the mice to fall asleep and increased the amount of sleep time, as measured by EEG recordings. Unlike humans, however, rocking did not seem to induce deeper sleep in the rodents. The authors suspected rocking might exert its influence on sleep by stimulating the vestibular system, the sensory organs in the inner ears of mammals that control our sense of balance and spatial orientation.

Using a strain of mice with impaired vestibular function, they showed this is indeed the case. Mice without these otolithic organs showed none of benefits of rocking during sleep. Kompotis says the two studies could lead to improved treatments for people who have trouble falling asleep as well as for those with inner ear defects.

But for those hankering to add rocking to their fitness routines, he urges patience. He graduated from the University of Virginia School of Medicine in Already a subscriber? Sign in. Thanks for reading Scientific American. Create your free account or Sign in to continue. See Subscription Options. Go Paperless with Digital. Get smart. Sign up for our email newsletter. A person with sleep paralysis will wake up but be unable to move. For a few seconds, they may feel afraid, and hear or see things that are not there….

Why being rocked will help you sleep better. Share on Pinterest New research helps explain why sleeping in a hammock feels so good. How rocking affects sleep quality. Vestibular sensory stimulation is key. Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals. Related Coverage. What to know about sleep deprivation. Medically reviewed by Raj Dasgupta, MD. How to tell if stress is affecting your sleep. Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, Ph. All you need to know about neurons.

Medically reviewed by Seunggu Han, MD. Everything you need to know about sleep paralysis. Medically reviewed by University of Illinois.