The synchrony effect revisited: chronotype, time of day and cognitive performance in a semantic analogy task

Abstract

The synchrony effect (i.e. superior performance at optimal, inferior performance at suboptimal times of day) has been broadly studied within the context of circadian rhythms. Whether one chronotype copes better with the synchrony effect than the other received only insufficient empirical attention. We report on an applied experimental study investigating the impact of chronotype on the synchrony effect in a semantic analogy task. To detect an analogy, 36 participants (12 males) aged between 18 and 40 had to decide whether the relation between events of a source pair was mirrored by the relation between events of a target pair (e.g. to cook: to eat = to saddle: to ride). Temporal orientation of the relation within each event pair was varied corresponding either to the chronological or reverse order. Response times (RTs), error rates, as well as the psychophysiological parameters pre-experimental pupil baseline and peak pupil dilation replicate findings of a synchrony effect (shorter RTs and allocation of less cognitive resources at optimal times of day) and show an impact of chronotype (morning types generally outperforming evening types). Most importantly, morning types appeared to cope better with the synchrony effect than evening types: At suboptimal times, morning types solved the analogy detection task more efficient; that is faster with the same accuracy and without the investment of more cognitive resources. They also showed greater alertness and wakefulness indexed by greater pre-experimental pupil baselines. At optimal times of day, morning types have more cognitive resources available to allocate these to the more demanding conditions to outperform evening types. We interpret these findings to suggest that morning types are more able to adapt to unfavourable circumstances (for instance, by avoiding wasteful resource allocation when there are less cognitive resources available). Evening types appear less able to adapt to suboptimal times than morning types, because they have to deal with social jetlag and decreased self-control.

Evening chronotype, disordered eating behavior, and poor dietary habits in bipolar disorder

“…An evening circadian preference, also called extreme eveningness or evening chronotype, is hypothesized to be a proxy marker of circadian system dysfunction because of its association with circadian phase delay (23). A desynchronization between the components of the circadian system favored by a circadian phase delay in individuals with an evening chronotype may represent a potential mechanism for the associated adverse health outcomes (24)(25)(26)(27). Indeed, evening chronotype is associated with disorganized eating behavior, unhealthy food preferences, nighteating behavior, and binge-eating behavior (28)(29)(30).…”

Individual Circadian Preference, Shift Work, and Risk of Medication Errors: A Cross-Sectional Web Survey among Italian Midwives

“…At optimal times of day, M-types had more cognitive resources available to allocate in the case of more demanding conditions. E-types appear less able to adapt to suboptimal times, because they have to deal with social jetlag and decreased self-control [7]. In fact, a recent systematic review reported that female nurses with an evening-oriented preference suffer more problems of insomnia, sleepiness, fatigue, and anxiety [8].…”

Time-of-day optimality effects on eyewitness memory performance

“…From a theoretical perspective, the synchrony effect is often construed as a cyclic variation in the amount of available cognitive resources (e.g., Nowack & Van Der Meer, 2018). We subjectively experience circadian arousal cycles as changes in energy levels throughout the day (Cariou, Galy, & Mélan, 2008;Thayer, 1987).…”

“…Inter-individual differences in the functioning of the body clock can be an important factor determining the time of day that is most optimal in terms of cognitive performance. Across a wide range of cognitive domains, such as attentional capacities, working and long-term memory, inhibition of irrelevant responses, and avoidance of stereotype-based responses, morning types perform better in the morning, and, the other way around, evening types are better in the evening (e.g., Goldstein, Hahn, Hasher, Wiprzycka, & Zelazo, 2007;May 1999;Nowack & Van Der Meer, 2018). Likewise, episodic memory is subject to the synchrony effect: Experimental research to date suggests that recall and recognition performance is better at circadian peaks as opposed to circadian troughs (May, Hasher, & Stoltzfus, 1993;Ryan, Hatfield, & Hofstetter, 2002;Petros, Beckwith, & Anderson, 1990;Yoon, 1997).…”

“…The so-called morning types perform best early in the day, whereas evening types peak in the evening hours (Goldstein et al 2007;Levandovski, Sasso, & Hidalgo, 2013). This pattern is known as the synchrony effect: Performance varies as a function of synchrony, or alignment of the time when certain task is performed with the ongoing circadian phase (e.g., May, 1999;May & Hasher, 1998;Nowack & Van Der Meer, 2018).…”