Ask Me Anything Part 17: Tracker Accuracy, 3 AM Wake ups, Sleep Onset & More

The Matt Walker Podcast

In this latest AMA episode, Matt and Dr. Eti Ben Simon tackle even more listener questions regarding any and all aspects of sleep. Today, they discuss sleep tracker accuracy, noting that while nightly data isn't perfect (~75-85% accurate), weekly trends are reliable. Feeling exhausted despite good tracker metrics? Potential causes include fragmented sleep, circadian issues, undiagnosed disorders (like apnea), or tracker-induced anxiety (orthosomnia). Matt and Eti stress consulting a specialist for persistent fatigue and focusing on long-term data patterns.

They also explore why many wake around 3:30 AM, linking it to shifts into lighter sleep stages and hormonal changes (cortisol rise, melatonin drop). The hosts explain alpha wave intrusion's link to nonrestorative sleep, theories behind teeth-falling-out dreams (trigeminal nerve activity), and differing sleep onset times (partner variations, potential sleep debt). They also touch upon how antidepressants affect dream recall via REM sleep reduction and debunk precognitive dreams, attributing them to statistics and cognitive bias, not prophecy.

Please note that Matt is not a medical doctor, and none of the content in this podcast should be considered medical advice in any way, shape, or form, nor prescriptive in any way.

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As always, if you have thoughts or feedback you’d like to share, please reach out to Matt or Eti:

Matt: Instagram @drmattwalker, X @sleepdiplomat,

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@sleepdiplomatmattwalker9299

Eti: X @etoosh, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/eti_bensimon/, or email at [email protected]