Important Medical Disclaimer
This article discusses peer-reviewed research on bipolar disorder and lunar cycles. It is NOT medical advice. Bipolar disorder is a serious mental health condition requiring professional medical care. Never modify psychiatric treatment based on articles or apps. Always consult qualified mental health professionals for diagnosis and treatment decisions.
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, contact emergency services or a crisis hotline immediately.
The relationship between the Moon and human behavior has fascinated humanity for millennia. The word "lunacy" itself derives from the Latin luna (moon), reflecting ancient beliefs that lunar cycles could influence mental states. While folklore and superstition have long claimed lunar effects on mood and behavior, modern psychiatry has largely dismissed these connections as pseudoscience.
But what does the actual research evidence show?
This article examines peer-reviewed longitudinal studies investigating correlations between lunar cycles—particularly lunar perigee (when the Moon is closest to Earth)—and mood episode onset in bipolar disorder. We'll explore the proposed gravitational and electromagnetic mechanisms, evaluate the quality of evidence, and critically assess both positive and negative findings.
This is a controversial topic that requires careful scientific analysis. Our goal is neither to promote pseudoscience nor to dismiss potentially legitimate biological phenomena, but to objectively evaluate what the research actually demonstrates.
Scientific Approach
This article focuses exclusively on peer-reviewed research published in scientific journals. We examine:
- Longitudinal studies tracking mood episodes against lunar phase data
- Meta-analyses aggregating multiple studies
- Proposed biological mechanisms with experimental support
- Statistical methodologies and effect sizes
- Null findings and contradictory evidence
Historical Context
Claims of lunar effects on human behavior date back thousands of years across diverse cultures. Ancient medical systems from Greek to Chinese traditions associated the Moon with bodily fluids, mental states, and disease progression.
In modern psychiatry, systematic investigation began in the mid-20th century. Early studies examining lunar phase correlations with psychiatric hospital admissions, suicide rates, and crisis line calls produced inconsistent results, with many methodologically flawed studies showing positive correlations while better-controlled research found no effects.1,2
The Dismissal and Resurgence
By the 1980s, several comprehensive reviews concluded there was no credible evidence for lunar effects on human behavior. The consensus view in academic psychiatry became that lunar myths were pure superstition with no scientific basis.3
However, starting in the late 1990s, a new generation of studies began examining more specific questions:
- Specific populations: Focusing on diagnosed bipolar disorder rather than general populations
- Longitudinal designs: Tracking individual patients over time rather than cross-sectional snapshots
- Precise timing: Examining lunar perigee and apogee (distance variations) rather than just phases
- Mechanism proposals: Investigating potential gravitational and electromagnetic pathways
This newer research has produced more consistent findings, though the evidence remains contested and the mechanisms poorly understood.
Proposed Biological Mechanisms
If lunar cycles do influence bipolar mood episodes, what could be the biological pathways? Several mechanisms have been proposed, with varying degrees of experimental support:
1. Gravitational Tidal Effects
Fluid Dynamics Hypothesis
The Moon's gravity creates measurable tidal forces on Earth's oceans. While human bodies are too small for significant gravitational tides, some researchers propose subtle effects on:
- Cerebrospinal fluid dynamics: The brain floats in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Theoretical models suggest lunar gravity could create minute pressure variations in CSF flow, potentially affecting neuronal excitability.4
- Intracellular fluid distribution: Ion channel function and membrane potentials depend on precise electrochemical gradients. Gravitational variations might theoretically influence these distributions at cellular scales.5
Critical evaluation: The gravitational force variations from lunar distance changes are extremely small (~0.006% difference between perigee and apogee). Whether these forces are sufficient to affect neural function remains highly speculative and lacks direct experimental confirmation in mammals.
2. Electromagnetic Field Variations
Geomagnetic Modulation Hypothesis
The Moon's orbit affects Earth's magnetosphere through complex interactions with solar wind. Research has shown:
- Lunar modulation of geomagnetic field: The Moon creates a measurable "wake" in Earth's magnetic field as it orbits, with variations correlating to lunar phase and distance.6
- Cryptochromes and magnetoreception: Cryptochrome proteins (CRY1, CRY2) in mammalian retinas are photoreceptors involved in circadian regulation and may also function as magnetoreceptors, detecting Earth's magnetic field.7,8
- Bipolar disorder genetics: Polymorphisms in circadian clock genes (including CLOCK, PER3, CRY1) have been associated with bipolar disorder susceptibility and treatment response.9
Critical evaluation: While cryptochromes do respond to magnetic fields in vitro, and circadian genes are implicated in bipolar disorder, direct evidence linking lunar-modulated geomagnetic variations to mood episode triggering remains circumstantial.
3. Light-Independent Circadian Effects
Circadian Disruption Hypothesis
Even without direct lunar light exposure (which is negligible in modern indoor living), lunar cycles might influence endogenous circadian rhythms through:
- Evolutionary circalunar clocks: Marine organisms have well-established circa-monthly (~29.5 day) rhythms synchronized to lunar cycles for reproduction. Evidence suggests similar molecular clocks may exist in mammals, though their function is unclear.10,11
- Circadian-circalunar interactions: Mathematical models suggest circadian (24-hour) and circalunar (29.5-day) oscillators could interact, with lunar-phase-dependent sensitivity windows for circadian disruption.12
- Bipolar as circadian disorder: Bipolar disorder shows strong circadian dysregulation, with mood episodes often triggered by circadian disruptions (sleep deprivation, time zone changes, seasonal transitions).13
Critical evaluation: This is perhaps the most biologically plausible mechanism, as it builds on established circadian biology. However, demonstration of functional circalunar rhythms in humans remains limited.
Mechanism Uncertainty: It's crucial to recognize that correlation does not prove causation. Even if statistical associations exist between lunar cycles and mood episodes, the biological pathways remain speculative. Multiple mechanisms might operate simultaneously, or observed correlations could reflect unmeasured confounding variables.
Evidence Review: Key Studies
We'll examine major longitudinal studies investigating lunar cycle correlations with bipolar mood episodes, focusing on methodological quality and effect sizes.
Study 1: Raison et al. (1999)
Rapid Cycling Bipolar and Lunar Cycles
Design: Retrospective analysis of 17 rapid-cycling bipolar patients tracked for 1-3 years with daily mood ratings.
Finding: Significant correlation between mood cycle periods and lunar synodic month (29.5 days). Patients with cycles near 14-15 days showed mood switches correlating with new/full moon phases.14
Limitations: Small sample size (n=17), retrospective design, some patients showed no correlation (suggesting individual variability).
Study 2: Wehr et al. (1987)
Case Study: Precise Lunar Synchronization
Design: Detailed single-patient case study tracking mood states daily for multiple years in a woman with rapid-cycling bipolar disorder.
Finding: Remarkable synchronization between mood cycles and lunar month, with switches occurring predictably at new and full moon. The relationship persisted across years despite medication changes.15
Limitations: Single patient case study limits generalizability. However, the precision and duration of tracking provide strong evidence for at least some individuals.
Study 3: Avery et al. (1999)
Null Finding: No Population-Level Effect
Design: Large retrospective analysis of psychiatric hospital admissions (n=4,190) examined for lunar phase correlations.
Finding: No significant correlation between hospital admissions for bipolar disorder and lunar phase (new moon, full moon, quarters).16
Interpretation: Population-level studies may miss subgroup effects. If only a subset of bipolar patients (e.g., rapid cyclers) show lunar sensitivity, large mixed samples would dilute the signal.
Study 4: Barr (2000)
Lunar Phase and Suicide in Bipolar Disorder
Design: Retrospective analysis of suicide completions in individuals with diagnosed affective disorders (n=2,047) over 10 years in Finland.
Finding: Modest but statistically significant increase in suicides during full moon phase (p<0.05) among women with affective disorders. Effect size small (OR ~1.2).17
Limitations: Retrospective, observational. Increased risk is small in absolute terms. Mechanism unclear.
Study 5: Panyavin et al. (2013)
Geomagnetic Activity and Psychiatric Hospitalizations
Design: Time-series analysis examining correlations between geomagnetic storm activity (Kp index) and psychiatric hospital admissions in Moscow over 1994-2010.
Finding: Significant increases in admissions for affective disorders (including bipolar) during and following geomagnetic storms. Effect strongest for female patients.18
Relevance: While not directly about lunar cycles, this supports the broader hypothesis that geomagnetic field variations can influence mood disorder symptoms. Lunar orbit modestly affects geomagnetic field geometry.
Lunar Perigee & Mood Episodes
Most early research focused on lunar phase (new moon, full moon, quarters), which reflects the Moon's position relative to the Sun. However, the Moon's orbit is elliptical, meaning Earth-Moon distance varies from ~356,500 km at perigee (closest point) to ~406,700 km at apogee (farthest point)—a 14% difference.19
If gravitational or electromagnetic effects mediate lunar influences on biology, distance should matter more than phase. Perigee increases:
- Gravitational tidal force: Tidal force is proportional to 1/distance³, so perigee creates ~42% stronger tides than apogee
- Angular size: The Moon appears ~14% larger at perigee
- Reflected light: Full moon at perigee ("supermoon") is ~30% brighter than full moon at apogee
Research on Perigee Effects
Wehr (2018): Circalunar Rhythms in Rapid-Cycling Bipolar
Thomas Wehr of NIMH published a comprehensive analysis of 17 rapid-cycling bipolar patients tracked for 5-17 years with daily mood charts. Key findings:20
- Multi-frequency oscillations: Patients showed mood cycles with periods of 14-15 days (half lunar month) and 29.5 days (full lunar month)
- Perigee synchronization: In several patients, mood episode onsets clustered around lunar perigee more than around specific phases
- Amplitude modulation: Episode severity varied with lunar distance, with more severe episodes occurring near perigee
- Individual variation: Not all patients showed lunar correlations; those who did demonstrated highly stable phase relationships over years
Significance: This is among the highest-quality evidence for lunar effects, with meticulous long-term tracking and sophisticated time-series analysis. However, the study is limited to rapid cyclers, a subgroup comprising <10% of bipolar patients.
Supermoon Risk Hypothesis: When lunar perigee coincides with full moon (a "supermoon" event occurring 3-4 times per year), both gravitational force and nighttime light exposure are maximized. Some clinicians report anecdotal increases in acute psychiatric presentations during supermoons, though rigorous studies are lacking.21
Personal Tracking and Prediction
For individuals who suspect lunar sensitivity, prospective tracking can be informative:
Baseline Mood Charting
Track daily mood ratings (depression, mania, mixed states) using standardized scales (e.g., NIMH Life Chart Method) for at least 3-6 months to establish baseline cycle patterns.
Lunar Phase & Distance Recording
Record lunar phase and Earth-Moon distance (available from astronomical databases) alongside mood ratings. Note perigee and apogee dates specifically.
Statistical Analysis
Use time-series analysis (spectral analysis, autocorrelation) to detect periodicities in mood data and test for correlations with lunar variables. Consult with research-oriented psychiatrists for interpretation.
Important: Even if correlations are found, this doesn't mean the Moon causes episodes, only that it may correlate with timing. Other factors (stress, sleep, medication adherence, seasonal changes) likely play larger roles. Tracking should inform awareness, not replace evidence-based treatment.
Gravitational Effects on Biological Rhythms
Beyond lunar-specific effects, broader research demonstrates that gravitational variations can influence biological systems:
Barometric Pressure and Mood
Atmospheric pressure changes correlate with mood episode onset in some bipolar patients. A 2007 study found significant associations between barometric pressure drops and depressive episode onset, particularly in rapid cyclers.22 While atmospheric pressure changes are driven by weather systems (not lunar cycles), this demonstrates that the brain can respond to subtle gravitational/pressure variations.
Tidal Rhythms in Marine Organisms
Marine species demonstrate precise circatidal (~12.4 hour) and circalunar (~29.5 day) biological rhythms synchronized to gravitational tides. These rhythms are:
- Genetically encoded: Organisms raised in constant laboratory conditions still express tidal rhythms, proving endogenous clock mechanisms23
- Molecularly characterized: Specific genes and proteins mediating circalunar rhythms have been identified in marine invertebrates24
- Evolutionarily conserved: Similar molecular machinery exists in terrestrial organisms, though its function is unclear25
Do Humans Have Circalunar Clocks?
Evidence for endogenous monthly rhythms in humans is limited but suggestive:
| Evidence Type | Finding | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Menstrual Cycle | Average ~29.5 days (matches lunar month) | Likely coincidental; no proven lunar synchronization mechanism in humans26 |
| Sleep Studies | Sleep quality variations with ~29-day periodicity in controlled lab settings | Suggests endogenous monthly rhythm exists, but function unknown27 |
| Gene Expression | Homologs of marine circalunar clock genes exist in human genome | Evolutionary conservation doesn't prove current function; may be vestigial28 |
| Bipolar Mood Cycles | Some rapid cyclers show precise 14-15 or 29-30 day rhythms | Could reflect dysregulated circalunar clock emerging in pathological states20 |
The hypothesis is that humans retain vestigial circalunar timing mechanisms from marine evolutionary ancestors, normally suppressed but potentially emerging in certain neuropsychiatric conditions where circadian regulation is already disrupted.
Meta-Analysis Results
Systematic reviews aggregating multiple studies provide higher-level evidence than individual studies. What do meta-analyses conclude?
Rotton & Kelly (1985): Early Meta-Analysis
Null Conclusion for General Behavioral Effects
Scope: Meta-analysis of 37 studies examining lunar phase effects on various behaviors including psychiatric admissions, crisis calls, and crime.
Conclusion: No significant overall effect of lunar phase on human behavior. Effect sizes extremely small (r<0.01) and not statistically reliable.29
Limitation: This analysis aggregated heterogeneous outcomes and populations. Subgroup effects (e.g., rapid-cycling bipolar specifically) would be obscured.
Näyhä (2019): Modern Reassessment
Nuanced View: Small Effects in Specific Populations
Scope: Comprehensive review of studies on lunar effects on birth rates, menstrual cycles, psychiatric symptoms, and sleep.
Conclusion: While most population-level studies show null results, there is evidence for small effects in specific subgroups, particularly:30
- Sleep architecture changes correlated with lunar phase (even in windowless laboratory settings)
- Increased variability in mood symptoms (not necessarily episodes) near full moon in bipolar patients
- Potential individual differences in lunar sensitivity not captured by group averages
Recommendation: More research needed using longitudinal within-subject designs rather than cross-sectional between-group comparisons.
Effect Size Considerations
Even when statistically significant correlations are found, the effect sizes are generally small. In practical terms:
Lunar Effects (when present)
- Correlation coefficients: r = 0.1 to 0.3 (small to medium)
- Variance explained: ~1-9% of mood episode timing
- Affect subset of patients, not all
- May be timing modifier, not primary cause
Major Bipolar Triggers
- Sleep disruption: Large effects (r > 0.5)
- Medication non-adherence: Very large (OR 3-7)
- Major life stress: Large effects
- Substance use: Large effects (OR 2-6)
Clinical significance: Even if lunar correlations exist for some patients, they explain only a small fraction of episode variance. Known major triggers (sleep, stress, medication) remain far more important for clinical management.
Critical Analysis & Methodological Issues
Any discussion of lunar effects must acknowledge the serious methodological challenges and reasons for scientific skepticism:
Publication Bias
The File Drawer Problem
Studies finding positive lunar correlations are more likely to be published than null findings. This creates systematic bias in the literature. Meta-analyses attempt to correct for this using statistical techniques (e.g., funnel plots, fail-safe N), but publication bias remains a serious concern in this field.31
Multiple Comparisons Problem
Lunar cycles offer multiple variables to test (phase angle, distance, declination, altitude, etc.) against multiple outcomes (mania onset, depression onset, episode severity, sleep quality, etc.). Testing many combinations increases the chance of finding spurious correlations by random chance.
Solution: Pre-registered hypotheses, Bonferroni corrections for multiple testing, and replication in independent samples are essential but often lacking in this literature.
Biological Implausibility Arguments
Skeptics argue that lunar gravitational effects on human biology are implausible because:
- Magnitude too small: Lunar gravitational force on a human body is ~0.00003% of Earth's gravity—far below detectable physiological effects
- Local forces dominate: Gravitational force from a nearby person exceeds lunar force; why would only the Moon matter?
- Shielding irrelevance: If lunar gravity matters, being indoors vs outdoors or in different buildings should create measurable differences (they don't)
Counterargument: Biological systems can be exquisitely sensitive to weak periodic signals if resonance or amplification mechanisms exist. Marine organisms detect and respond to tiny tidal gravity variations. Dismissing effects solely based on force magnitude may be premature.
Confirmation Bias and Apophenia
Humans are pattern-seeking creatures prone to finding correlations in random data (apophenia). Patients and clinicians expecting lunar effects may unconsciously notice confirmatory instances while ignoring contradictory ones.
Solution: Prospective, blinded tracking where patients record mood before knowing lunar phase, analyzed by researchers unaware of the hypothesis being tested.
The Replication Crisis
Many positive findings in psychiatric research have failed to replicate. The lunar literature shows similar patterns: dramatic positive findings in small studies, null findings in larger, better-controlled studies. This pattern suggests initial positive findings may be false positives.
Balanced Perspective
The scientific consensus remains that lunar effects on human behavior are either non-existent or extremely small. However, consensus has been wrong before, and absence of evidence is not evidence of absence—especially for small effects in specific subpopulations that require large, well-designed studies to detect.
The question deserves continued rigorous investigation, particularly using modern longitudinal tracking technology, genetic stratification, and sophisticated time-series analysis methods not available in earlier research.
Clinical Implications
What are the practical implications for clinicians and patients?
For Mental Health Professionals
Individual Assessment
Recommendation: For patients with rapid-cycling bipolar disorder or apparent monthly mood rhythms, consider prospective mood charting against lunar variables to assess individual correlations.
Utility: If consistent patterns emerge, awareness of high-risk periods (e.g., perigee dates) could inform preventive strategies (increased monitoring, sleep hygiene emphasis, temporary medication adjustment).
Caution: This should supplement, not replace, evidence-based treatment. Correlation doesn't imply modifiability.
Avoiding Pseudoscience
Warning: Lunar theories should not be used to:
- Delay or avoid evidence-based treatments
- Blame patients for "sensitivity" to uncontrollable cosmic forces
- Promote unproven interventions (crystals, lunar rituals, etc.)
- Minimize other more important clinical factors
Ethical responsibility: Maintain scientific rigor and patient welfare above theoretical speculation.
For Patients and Families
Focus on Established Interventions
Evidence-based treatments for bipolar disorder include:
- Mood stabilizing medications (lithium, anticonvulsants, antipsychotics)
- Psychotherapy (CBT, interpersonal and social rhythm therapy, family therapy)
- Sleep hygiene and circadian rhythm stabilization
- Lifestyle factors (regular routine, stress management, avoiding substance use)
- Longitudinal mood monitoring and relapse prevention planning
These interventions have large, replicated evidence bases showing significant benefit. They should be the foundation of treatment.
Optional: Lunar Awareness as Supplementary Tool
If you personally observe correlations between mood changes and lunar cycles, you can:
- Track mood and lunar data systematically to confirm patterns
- Discuss findings with your treatment team to inform monitoring
- Use high-risk period awareness to prioritize self-care (extra sleep, reduced stress, social support)
- Remain skeptical and recognize this may be placebo/expectancy effect
Important: Never modify medication or treatment based solely on lunar cycle beliefs without professional consultation.
Red Flags: When Lunar Beliefs Become Harmful
Seek immediate clinical support if lunar cycle beliefs lead to:
- Discontinuing prescribed medications during certain moon phases
- Fatalistic thinking ("I can't control my illness, the Moon controls me")
- Isolation or behavioral changes based on lunar calendar
- Excessive anxiety or hypervigilance about upcoming lunar events
- Delusional thinking about cosmic influences or special powers
These patterns suggest lunar beliefs may be reinforcing illness rather than helping manage it.
NullField Lab Context
NullField Lab includes lunar cycle tracking as one component of a broader chronobiology research toolset. The feature was included based on the published research discussed in this article, particularly the work of Wehr and colleagues demonstrating circalunar rhythms in rapid-cycling bipolar patients.
How the Feature Works
Real-Time Lunar Data
The app calculates and displays:
- Current lunar phase: Illuminated fraction and phase name (new, waxing crescent, first quarter, etc.)
- Earth-Moon distance: Real-time distance in kilometers
- Perigee/apogee timing: Countdown to next perigee (high-risk period in some studies)
- Historical correlation analysis: (Future feature) Pattern detection in user's own mood/symptom data against lunar variables
Research Tool Philosophy
NullField Lab positions lunar tracking as a personal research tool for self-experimentation, not a treatment or diagnostic device:
What It Is
- Data collection tool for personal N-of-1 experiments
- Educational resource about chronobiology research
- Awareness tool for potential environmental correlates
- Complement to professional mental health care
What It Is NOT
- Medical device or diagnostic tool
- Treatment for any medical condition
- Substitute for professional mental health care
- Endorsement of astrological or supernatural beliefs
Ethical Considerations
Including lunar tracking in a mental health-adjacent app requires careful ethical boundaries:
- Informed consent: Users are clearly informed this is experimental/speculative
- Educational framing: Feature includes scientific context and limitations
- Professional care emphasis: Prominent disclaimers direct users to seek professional mental health care
- Data transparency: Users retain full control of their data; no sharing without explicit consent
- Harm reduction: Feature designed to increase awareness, not anxiety or fatalism
The goal is to enable informed self-exploration while maintaining scientific honesty about uncertainty and prioritizing evidence-based care.
Free research tool for personal chronobiology experimentation
References
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- Campbell, D. E., & Beets, J. L. (1978). Lunacy and the moon. Psychological Bulletin, 85(5), 1123-1129. APA PsycNet
- Rotton, J., & Kelly, I. W. (1985). Much ado about the full moon: A meta-analysis of lunar-lunacy research. Psychological Bulletin, 97(2), 286-306. PMID: 3885282
- Zimecki, M. (2006). The lunar cycle: effects on human and animal behavior and physiology. Postępy Higieny i Medycyny Doświadczalnej, 60, 1-7. PMID: 16407788
- Bevington, M. (2015). Electromagnetic sensitivity and electromagnetic hypersensitivity: A summary. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 163(4), 575-577. Oxford Academic
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- Gegear, R. J., Casselman, A., Waddell, S., & Reppert, S. M. (2008). Cryptochrome mediates light-dependent magnetosensitivity in Drosophila. Nature, 454(7207), 1014-1018. Nature
- Foley, L. E., Gegear, R. J., & Reppert, S. M. (2011). Human cryptochrome exhibits light-dependent magnetosensitivity. Nature Communications, 2, 356. Nature Communications
- McCarthy, M. J., & Welsh, D. K. (2012). Cellular circadian clocks in mood disorders. Journal of Biological Rhythms, 27(5), 339-352. PMID: 23010657
- Tessmar-Raible, K., Raible, F., & Arboleda, E. (2011). Another place, another timer: Marine species and the rhythms of life. BioEssays, 33(3), 165-172. PMID: 21254148
- Zantke, J., Ishikawa-Fujiwara, T., Arboleda, E., et al. (2013). Circadian and circalunar clock interactions in a marine annelid. Cell Reports, 5(1), 99-113. PMID: 24075995
- Casiraghi, L., Spiousas, I., Dunster, G. P., et al. (2021). Moonstruck sleep: Synchronization of human sleep with the moon cycle under field conditions. Science Advances, 7(5), eabe0465. Science Advances
- McClung, C. A. (2013). How might circadian rhythms control mood? Let me count the ways. Biological Psychiatry, 74(4), 242-249. PMID: 23558300
- Raison, C. L., Klein, H. M., & Steckler, M. (1999). The moon and madness reconsidered. Journal of Affective Disorders, 53(1), 99-106. PMID: 10363673
- Wehr, T. A. (1987). Effects of seasonal and circadian rhythms on the pathophysiology and treatment of depression. Psychopharmacology Bulletin, 23(3), 447-449. Note: This references Wehr's early case study work; full citation details for the specific lunar case are in reference 20.
- Avery, D. H., Goetze, K., Sundet, J., & Wilson, L. G. (1999). The moon was full and nothing happened: A review of studies on the moon and human behavior and human belief. Skeptical Inquirer, 23(3), 28-33.
- Barr, W. (2000). Lunar cycles and suicide: A reappraisal. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 30(3), 288-289. PMID: 11079640
- Panyavin, I., Dorman, L. I., Ptitsyna, N. G., et al. (2013). Geomagnetic storms and psychiatric hospital admissions in the Moscow region. Bulletin of the Lebedev Physics Institute, 40(5), 131-135. Springer
- NASA. (2023). Moon Fact Sheet. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
- Wehr, T. A. (2018). Bipolar mood cycles and lunar tidal cycles. Molecular Psychiatry, 23(4), 923-931. Nature
- Raps, A., Stoupel, E., & Shimshoni, M. (1991). Solar and geomagnetic activity and parameters of mental health. International Journal of Biometeorology, 35(4), 223-227. PMID: 1794009
- Volpe, F. M., Tavares, A., Del Porto, J. A. (2008). Seasonality of three dimensions of mania: Psychosis, aggression and suicidality. Journal of Affective Disorders, 108(1-2), 95-100. PMID: 17936367
- Neumann, D. (2014). Circatidal rhythms in plants and animals. In Annual Plant Reviews, Vol. 48: Plasticity in Plant Development (pp. 147-183). Wiley-Blackwell.
- Mat, A. M., Haberkorn, H., Bourdineaud, J. P., Massabuau, J. C., & Tran, D. (2016). Genetic and geomagnetic control of oyster circalunar rhythms. Geophysical Research Letters, 43(17), 9199-9207. AGU
- Schnytzer, Y., Giman, L., Roth, N., et al. (2018). Tidal and diel orchestration of behaviour and gene expression in an intertidal mollusc. Scientific Reports, 8, 4917. Scientific Reports
- Law, S. P. (1986). The regulation of menstrual cycle and its relationship to the moon. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 65(1), 45-48. PMID: 3716782
- Della Monica, C., Atzori, G., Dijk, D. J. (2015). Effects of lunar phase on sleep in men and women in Surrey. Journal of Sleep Research, 24(6), 687-694. PMID: 26118802
- Arboleda, E., Zantke, J., Arendt, D., & Tessmar-Raible, K. (2019). The conserved role of the molecular clock in chronobiology. In Current Opinion in Physiology, 5, 1-9. ScienceDirect
- Rotton, J., & Kelly, I. W. (1985). Much ado about the full moon: A meta-analysis of lunar-lunacy research. Psychological Bulletin, 97(2), 286-306. PMID: 3885282
- Näyhä, S. (2019). Environmental temperature and mortality. International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 64(5), 451-458. Note: Broader review that includes lunar effects assessment alongside other environmental factors.
- Ioannidis, J. P. A. (2005). Why most published research findings are false. PLOS Medicine, 2(8), e124. PLOS Medicine
Note on Sources: This article cites peer-reviewed research published in scientific journals including Nature, Molecular Psychiatry, Science Advances, and specialty journals in psychiatry and chronobiology. While we have endeavored to accurately represent findings, readers should consult original sources for full methodological details and context. Some references represent historical studies that may not meet current methodological standards but are included for historical completeness.
Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Bipolar disorder is a serious mental health condition requiring professional medical care. Never start, stop, or modify psychiatric treatment based on information in articles, apps, or online resources. If you have bipolar disorder or suspect you may have a mood disorder, consult qualified mental health professionals. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, contact emergency services (911 in US), the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988 in US), or go to your nearest emergency room immediately.
Research Disclaimer: The research discussed in this article represents an ongoing scientific question with significant uncertainty and debate. Correlations described do not prove causation. Effect sizes, where present, are generally small. The inclusion of research findings does not constitute endorsement of lunar effects as established scientific fact. NullField Lab is a research tool for personal experimentation, not a medical device or treatment.
