spring fever
that's full of energy, vitality
and sexual appetite associated with spring
it's been written about for centuries
but does it really exist?
there's definitely something in this spring time air
a Canadian study showed a way that
teen pregnancy peaks in March
right around spring break
and another found that men
produce the most
and the healthiest sperm
in early spring
what's causing this seasonal shift?
Scientists think our increase in
energy and better mood
have to do with changes in hormone levels
an important one is melatonin
sometimes called the "sleep hormone"
it's released at night and helps us to fall asleep
when the nights are longer
we produce more melatonin
and in spring, as the night gets shorter
we produce less of it
may be explaining why we feel
more awake and more active
seratonin is another chemical
that affects our mood
it's known as the "happiness hormone"
and it's level risens in spring time
as it gets sunnier
and the pathologists think that
this changes in hormone levels
may have to do with survival and
reproduction
many animals lay low in the winter
using less energy because food is sacarce
early humans might have done the same
when food became more abundant in the spring
and it make sense that they become...
more....
active
not surprisingly
as you move toward the equator
spring fever disappears
for example
scientists have noticed that seasonal changes
and the birth rates of field mice
flatten out
as you get closer to the equator
but sunshine may not be the only
spring time "pick me up"
for humans, the optimal temperature for
good mood is 72 degrees Fahrenheit
and let's face it
once the temperature starts to rise
we're wearing a lot less
for Scientific American and Instant Egghead
I'm Yasmin Tayag