Pre-sleep overthinking: does it signal high intelligence or just a restless mind? What latest sleep research means for Thai readers
A headline grabbing claim is making rounds online: overthinking before bed is actually a sign of high intelligence. The idea blades through social feeds with anecdotes about late-night problem solving and creative bursts just as people are about to drift off. But the science behind it is more nuanced. While some researchers have explored links between sleep patterns and cognitive performance, there is little evidence to support the blanket takeaway that thoughtful, pre-sleep rumination signals higher intelligence. In fact, the most robust findings so far suggest any connection is small, context-dependent, and far from a simple measurement of intellect. For Thai readers, this matters because sleep habits, stressors, and cultural expectations around rest and productivity intersect in distinctive ways that shape how such claims land in daily life.