Chronotype and synchrony effects in human cognitive performance: A systematic review

Of the 65 studies reviewed, more than 80% showed no main effect of chronotype on cognitive function.

• Chronotype is associated with varying cognitive performance depending on the time of day.
• In adults aged 18-45, 45.31% of studies indicated a synchrony effect, showing better performance at optimal times, particularly in attention, inhibition, and memory tasks.
• In older adults, 83.33% of studies demonstrated a synchrony effect, especially in tasks requiring fluid abilities.
• Limited evidence suggests increased activation in brain regions related to inhibition at optimal times for both chronotypes.
• Certain external factors, like task complexity and lighting, may influence synchrony effects on cognitive performance.

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