Poly Phasic Sleep Pattners (Increasing your time awake)

[7redorbs]

Polyphasic sleep, a term coined by early 20th century psychologist J.S. Szymanski,[1] refers to the practice of sleeping multiple times in a 24-hour period—usually, more than two, in contrast to biphasic sleep —and does not imply any particular schedule. See also Segmented sleep and Sleep (Optimal amount). The term polyphasic sleep is also used by an online community which experiments with ultra-short napping to achieve more time awake each day.



Multiphasic sleep of normal total duration

An example of polyphasic sleep is found in patients with irregular sleep-wake pattern, a circadian rhythm sleep disorder which usually is caused by head injury or dementia. Much more common examples are the sleep of human infants and of many animals. Elderly humans often have disturbed sleep, including polyphasic sleep.[2]

In their 2006 paper “The Nature of Spontaneous Sleep Across Adulthood”, Campbell and Murphy studied sleep timing and quality in young, middle-aged and older adults. They found that, in freerunning conditions, the average duration of major nighttime sleep was significantly longer in young adults than in the other groups. The paper states further:

“Whether such patterns are simply a response to the relatively static experimental conditions, or whether they more accurately reflect the natural organization of the human sleep/wake system, compared with that which is exhibited in daily life, is open to debate. However, the comparative literature strongly suggests that shorter, polyphasically-placed sleep is the rule, rather than the exception, across the entire animal kingdom (Campbell and Tobler, 1984; Tobler, 1989). There is little reason to believe that the human sleep/wake system would evolve in a fundamentally different manner. That people often do not exhibit such sleep organization in daily life merely suggests that humans have the capacity (often with the aid of stimulants such as caffeine or increased physical activity) to overcome the propensity for sleep when it is desirable, or is required, to do so.” [3]

Link to Full Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyphasic_sleep

[Cynar]

Not got a link to hand, But I know NASA teaches astronauts how to do this in case there is ever a serious issue in orbit. I think they found 45 minute long naps to be most effective with minimal sleep inertia. Also, interestingly most of the people who have actually pulled this off properly (Uberman cycle etc.) have eaten little or no meat. Worth noting if anyone is considering it :-)

Cynar

[7redorbs]

Not got a link to hand, But I know NASA teaches astronauts how to do this in case there is ever a serious issue in orbit. I think they found 45 minute long naps to be most effective with minimal sleep inertia. Also, interestingly most of the people who have actually pulled this off properly (Uberman cycle etc.) have eaten little or no meat. Worth noting if anyone is considering it :-)

Cynar

Yeah, you're right I was reading about that earlier. I lolled at the "Uberman" sleeping cycle, out loud!

That really is great.. they understand the geek-a-type perfectly with that name, either that or the Germany are taking their sleeping cycles far too seriously.

A

[Cynar]

Geeks formalised it (Not invented, It's been used by many people for a long time), NASA makes a habit of giving a nod to the geek community when it can. Probably because most of the staff there are the geek community! :-)

Point of interest I ran across. The Uberman cycle occurs at 2 times in life, quite naturally. One, as a newborn infant. Mainly due to the need to feed (and other activities) regularly. And by extension by their parents. Are we just taking advantage of a system evolved to allow mothers to care for newborns? If so, is it easier for women to get into the cycle than men?

Cynar

[7redorbs]

or, are these sleeping states, just novel inventions of the mind to deal with new environments it finds itself surrounded or entangled (interacting) with,

Perhaps understanding the way we are changed by interactivity with our environment, gives/gave raise to this understanding in the first place,

You make extremely apt points which IMO are quite philosophical in nature.

I am impressed Paul

A

[Cynar]

anyone care at an attempt at translating?