McElroy

by RYN MACARTHUR
Intern Lifestyles Reporter

Most students report having spent numerous sleepless nights studying. 

However, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Web site, “sleep affects our daily functioning and our physical and mental health.”

Jordan T. Haynes, sophomore philosophy and religion major, said she is not often tired with six or less hours of sleep every night. 

According to the Web site, teenagers need at least nine hours every night.

Appalachian State University students sleep seven to nine hours on average, according to a survey conducted by

The Appalachian earlier this year.

Some students at Appalachian rely on coffee and or naps to get them through the day.

“I am definitely tired throughout the day,” Tabetha C. Simpson, freshmen undecided major said. “I take a nap and drink caffeinated drinks throughout the day.” 

Dr. Todd McElroy displays an Actiwatch. The Actiwatch is a device used to measure circadian rhythms. Participants in the study were required to wear them. Photo by Holt Menzies

“Shade Grown [Coffee brand] is definitely a common meeting place for students,” Marguerite N. Saunders,

Crossroads Cafe barista and sophomore theatre arts major said.

Dr. David L. Dickinson and Dr. Todd McElroy are conducting a study that “involves sleep and circadian rhythm [a 24 hour cycle the biochemical, physiological or behavioral process),” McElroy said.

A recent e-mail circulated Appalachian in search of participants interested in earning taking part in the study. 

Randall Hardman, junior philosophy and religion major, participated in the study and said, “It was a pain wearing the watch but it was an easy way to make money. No one would do the test if there was no money.”

As for the procedure, he said “I called them when I was going to bed, pressed a button [on the watch] when I woke up, and pressed a button when I went to sleep,” Hardman said.

He said it monitored his movements throughout the day.

He had to keep a log from one Thursday to the next of how well he slept, how rested he felt, and what his caffeine or alcohol usage was. 

“An actiwatch records their body movements,” McElroy said.

Hardman said, “I think the watch records restlessness as I sleep.”

Dickinson gained money through external and internal grants such as the Research Development award and agrant from the National Science Foundation.

At the end of the experiment, we present them with decision tasks in the morning or evening,” McElroy said.

Hardman said at the end of the study he had to take a survey in which he had to choose random numbers.

He believed that the point of the experiment was to make a connection between wrist movements during sleep and attentiveness during the average work day.

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