Toronto: Having trouble sleeping? Forget counting sheep. All you may need is your romantic partner’s favourite T-shirt wrapped around your pillow, as researchers have found that the scent of a romantic partner can improve sleep.
The study, published in the journal Psychological Science suggests that the scent of a romantic partner can improve your quality of sleep. This is true regardless of whether or not you are consciously aware that the scent is even present.
“A growing body of evidence has shown that close relationships are essential to our health and well being,” said study co-author Frances Chen from the University of British Columbia in Canada.
“But far less is known about the role of scent in relationships and social support processes. The current study provides new evidence that the mere scent of a romantic partner improves sleep efficiency,” Chen added.
Previous research has shown that romantic relationships and close physical contact can provide many physical and mental benefits, including aiding in a good night’s sleep.
Other research has shown that scents can have profound and evocative effects on the brain. What has not yet been clearly demonstrated is a direct connection between the two.
For the findings, the researchers set out to investigate this intersection and to understand how romance, scent, and sleep interact.
