Mechanisms and Intervention Strategies for the Impact of Watching Different Types of Films Before Bed on Sleep Quality

Xingzhinuo Li

doi:10.54254/2753-7048/2026.PE37254

Abstract

When the narrative structure of a film is treated as the independent variable, the hippocampus primarily supports two core functions: memory tagging and the replay of tagged events. Variations in narrative structure determine the density of event boundaries, which in turn modulate memory consolidation and sleep architecture. This study investigates how pre-sleep film viewing affects memory and sleep outcomes, with consideration of evoked emotions, event boundary density, and clinical relevance. Results were derived from two participant groups who completed the Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM), episodic recall test, and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), in addition to providing sleep data via wearable monitors. We found that high event boundary films (e.g., Memento ) elicited higher emotional arousal but reduced sleep onset latency (SOL) and improved sleep efficiency (SE), whereas low event boundary films (e.g., 1917 ) prolonged SOL due to sustained attentional load. These findings challenge the canonical view that "high cognitive load uniformly impairs sleep quality", and reveal a bifurcation in the temporal dynamics of cognitive load. Our results suggest that narrative structure acts as a modulator of hippocampo-cortical communication, with implications for subclinical sleep manifestations of emotional disorders and neurodegenerative diseases.

Keywords: Boundary density , sleep structure , cognitive load dynamics , memory , neurocinematic

Article Information

Received: 26 August 2026

Published: 22 September 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.54254/2753-7048/2026.PE37254

Article Type: Research Article

Cite this article

Li,X. (2026). Mechanisms and Intervention Strategies for the Impact of Watching Different Types of Films Before Bed on Sleep Quality. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,150,167-172.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

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About this Volume

Volume Title: LNEP Vol.150

Part of Series: Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media

ISSN: 2753-7048 (Print) / 2753-7056 (Online)

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