A new study, by researchers at the University of Houston, says that melatonin, a hormone used to overcome jet lag and induce sleep, may have deleterious effects. Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone in the human body and may be responsible for poor learning and memory formation in the night.
Often called "the hormone of darkness", melatonin is believed to regulate patterns of sleeping and awakening in humans. It's an antioxidant whose natural levels are high during the night and low during the day.In addition to what the body produces naturally, many people also take melatonin supplements to fight jet lag, balance out seasonal effect disorder and regulate night-time dementia.
The study, led by Gregg W. Roman, contends that melatonin could actually be hurting people at night. The researchers found in a study with zebrafish that it directly inhibits memory formation.
"This work is about the mechanism by which the biological clock controls the formation of new memories," Roman said.
Looking at the circadian (day-night cycle) control of learning and memory formation, the researchers found zebrafish -- which have the same activity rhythms as people -- are capable of learning well during their active phase during the day, but learn very poorly at night during their sleep.
The two-year-long study also found a solution to the problem. Removing the melatonin-producing gland allowed the researchers to alleviate the hormone's negative side effects.
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That will produce a 'best of both worlds' scenario -- taking advantage of melatonin's antioxidant benefits while improving night-time memory formation that is now inhibited by it.
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KAR/P
