Jet Lag and Fruit Fly Brains

Jet Lag and Fruit Fly BrainsTop of Mind with Julie Rose • Season 1, Episode 44, Segment 2

Apr 16, 2015 • 15m

Guest: Todd C. Holmes, professor of physiology and biophysics at the University of California Irvine and lead researcher on the fruit fly study published in the journal Current Biology A new study published in the journal Current Biology gets at the reasons why we experience jet lag when travelling across time zones. It has to do with light and the synchronization of our body's circadian clock. And the researchers behind the study figured this out by manipulating the disembodied brains of fruit flies in jars. "To decrease the effects of jet lag, begin the process before you start the trip. Once you get to your destination - track the day of where you are. Get up early in the morning to encounter as much sunlight as you can. Then, avoid alcohol and taking naps. The quicker you can sink into your new zone, the better."

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