The Psychological and Neurobiological Impact of the Lunar Cycle on Human Emotion, Cognition, and Sleep Patterns

  • Unique Paper ID: 187690
  • PageNo: 6398-6402
  • Abstract:
  • The Moon has long been regarded as a synchronizer of natural rhythms and human psychological processes. While ancient cultures linked lunar phases with intuition, emotion, and internal states, modern science has begun uncovering biological patterns that subtly correspond to the lunar cycle. This research proposal aims to investigate how the four major lunar phases—New Moon, First Quarter, Full Moon, and Last Quarter—influence human emotional intensity, cognitive attention, sleep quality, and dream activity. Using standardized psychological assessment tools (POMS, PSQI, MAAS) and daily observational diaries, data will be collected over a complete lunar month (~29.5 days) from 80 participants aged 20–40 years. The study is grounded in both contemporary chronobiology and ancient Indian Awdhan psychology, exploring how internal mental rhythms may align with external cosmic cycles. It is hypothesized that emotional reactivity and sleep disturbances increase during the Full Moon, while introspection and mindfulness peak during New Moon and Waning phases. The mixed-method research design incorporates quantitative scoring and qualitative thematic analysis to capture dynamic psychological patterns across lunar transitions. The significance of the study lies in its multidisciplinary approach that connects neurobiology, sleep science, emotional regulation, and cultural psychological theory. The findings may contribute to emerging fields such as chronopsychology and integrative mental health, providing new insights into how natural rhythms can be integrated into psychological wellbeing and therapeutic practices.

Copyright & License

Copyright © 2026 Authors retain the copyright of this article. This article is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

BibTeX

@article{187690,
        author = {Jeewan Jyoti Tiwari},
        title = {The Psychological and Neurobiological Impact of the Lunar Cycle on Human Emotion, Cognition, and Sleep Patterns},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2025},
        volume = {12},
        number = {6},
        pages = {6398-6402},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=187690},
        abstract = {The Moon has long been regarded as a synchronizer of natural rhythms and human psychological processes. While ancient cultures linked lunar phases with intuition, emotion, and internal states, modern science has begun uncovering biological patterns that subtly correspond to the lunar cycle. This research proposal aims to investigate how the four major lunar phases—New Moon, First Quarter, Full Moon, and Last Quarter—influence human emotional intensity, cognitive attention, sleep quality, and dream activity. Using standardized psychological assessment tools (POMS, PSQI, MAAS) and daily observational diaries, data will be collected over a complete lunar month (~29.5 days) from 80 participants aged 20–40 years.
The study is grounded in both contemporary chronobiology and ancient Indian Awdhan psychology, exploring how internal mental rhythms may align with external cosmic cycles. It is hypothesized that emotional reactivity and sleep disturbances increase during the Full Moon, while introspection and mindfulness peak during New Moon and Waning phases. The mixed-method research design incorporates quantitative scoring and qualitative thematic analysis to capture dynamic psychological patterns across lunar transitions.
The significance of the study lies in its multidisciplinary approach that connects neurobiology, sleep science, emotional regulation, and cultural psychological theory. The findings may contribute to emerging fields such as chronopsychology and integrative mental health, providing new insights into how natural rhythms can be integrated into psychological wellbeing and therapeutic practices.},
        keywords = {Lunar cycle, chronobiology, emotional regulation, Awdhan psychology, sleep patterns, mindfulness, cognitive attention, neuropsychology.},
        month = {November},
        }

Cite This Article

Tiwari, J. J. (2025). The Psychological and Neurobiological Impact of the Lunar Cycle on Human Emotion, Cognition, and Sleep Patterns. International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology (IJIRT), 12(6), 6398–6402.

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