The brain relies on neurotransmitters to pass along messages to each other and signal emotions and functions, such as mood and the feeling that you need to sleep. One example of a neurotransmitter is serotonin. One of its chief functions is to signal to the brain that you are sleepy. Lower serotonin levels can result in difficulty going to or staying asleep.
Low Levels, Poor Sleep
When serotonin levels are low in the body, this can result in poor quality sleep, according to UCLA Arthur Ashe Student Health & Wellness Center. Low levels of serotonin are associated with a number of negative factors, including depression. According to a study from the University College London and Columbia University in New York, serotonin levels are linked with depression and anxiety, both of which can affect the way you sleep, according to ScienceDaily.com. Depression can cause a person to experience poor quality sleep with periods of restlessness or make a person sleep too much, which can be equally as harmful, according to the National Sleep Foundation.
Higher Levels from Foods, Increased Drowsiness
Foods containing amino acids can increase serotonin production in the body, according to GoAskAlice.columbia.edu. These foods contain tryptophan, which is needed to produce serotonin. Foods, such as carbohydrates found in whole-grain bread, bagels, muffins, etc., signal the body to increase production of serotonin, which creates a relaxing effect and can make you feel drowsy. This is why eating a high carbohydrate meal, such as pasta, can make a person feel sleepy after eating it.
Higher Serotonin Levels, Better Quality Sleep
A study of fruit flies performed by Quan Yuan, William Joiner and Amita Sehgal at the University of Pennsylvania found that treatments with serotonin increased the flies' abilities to sleep more soundly. Quality sleep means a person is able to sleep longer and more deeply, according to ScienceDaily.com. This is useful for those who can go to sleep, but have trouble staying asleep.
