Why doesn't hockey on TV at bedtime put me to sleep like hockey on the radio did when I was a kid?
Asked by
tedibear (
19389
)
April 21st, 2012
While growing up, I had a radio that had a timer on it. The radio could be on for up to an hour, at which point it would turn off. During hockey season, I would fall asleep to Buffalo Sabres games. (And music during the off season.) I can remember one or two times being awake when the timer turned off the radio, but for the most part, I clonked right out.
Now, when we go to bed and hockey is on, I don’t fall asleep. I’m not paying particular attention to the game, so it’s not the excitement keeping me awake. My first thought was the light from the television, but I can fall asleep while reading, so I’m not sure that’s it.
Is it that I fell asleep more easily as a child? Is it that I miss Rick Jeanneret’s voice? What happened?
Note: I put this in social in the event that it wanders off topic or someone has something amusing to say.
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8 Answers
It doesn’t matter whether you find the game exciting or not so long as your brain does, and television is better at engaging those parts of the brain that will keep you awake than radio is. In fact, television affects our brains much differently than most other media (including the internet). The passivity of it allows your body to conserve energy, but the constant movement on the screen keeps your brain alert. In part it is because your brain is quite used to filtering out sound while you sleep, but usually doesn’t have to contend with moving external images. This is not to say that there may be age-related factors, but television is associated with difficulty sleeping in all age groups as far as I know.
How the hell could you fall asleep to Jeanneret? His announcing style is super exciting. I could see falling asleep to Sylvester though.
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-Lafontaine!
May Day! May Day! May Day!
Go Sabres! (well, next year anyway)
I have heard there is something about the blue-tones visible from TV or even computer screens which “wake up” your brain. Some people seem to be more sensitive to this and should not watch TV or use a computer for a couple hours before bed. Doesn’t matter to me though – I can usually zonk out anytime. zzzzz
TV stimulates the brain far more than radio, making it harder to sleep.
Thanks all! I hadn’t realized that I was still being effected by the screen like that. I appreciate the info.
@amujinx – I miss that voice! I also miss Ted Darling. I love that they named the press box in the new(ish) arena for him.
@amujinx Top shelf where momma hides the cookies!
@tedibear I was 10 when Darling retired, so I don’t remember him calling games.
@Adirondackwannabe I could have kept going, but it would have been a novel of great calls if I continued. That is a classic though.
“He shoots, he scores Daaannyyy Gaaaaaare!!!!!”
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