If you’ve ever stared at the ceiling at 2 a.m., wondering why your brain suddenly feels like a dark, scary carnival, science may finally have an answer. A growing body of research suggests the human mind wasn’t built for the night shift. After midnight, our brains start working against us, tipping toward impulsivity, risky decisions, and intrusive thoughts that feel heavier than they do in daylight.

Harvard neurologist Elizabeth Klerman, one of the researchers behind the “Mind After Midnight” hypothesis, says the brain’s chemistry literally changes after hours. “There are millions of people who are awake in the middle of the night, and there’s fairly good evidence that their brain is not functioning as well as it does during the day,” she said in a 2022 interview. Her plea: study it furth

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