Are we able to Sleep For Three Hours but still Function Normally
hours rather than one long sleep every night (monophasic
sleep)
The naps lasts from a minimum of 10 minutes up to 30
or 40 minutes. 25 minutes is recognized as optimal.
The polyphasic sleep concept is based upon the fact that
you will find there's 4 hour *ultradian* rhythm operating alongside
our normal 24 hour cycle. This ultradian rhythm implies that
we undergo an entire mini-cycle every 4 hours. Usually
in the following times: 4am, 8am, noon, 4pm, 8pm and
midnight. Have you ever experienced dip in energy at 4pm?
Those following a polyphasic sleep schedule usually sleep from 10-30 minutes every 4 hours . It goes on for the whole Twenty four hours. A modified version of the is also practiced, where 3
hours core sleep in the early morning is then 20
minute naps every 4 hours. Individuals can adapt
cycles to higher suit their lifestyle.
Mammals residing in dangerous environments practice the
polyphasic sleep schedule. Their survival may mean remaining
alert to danger throughout the day and night. Astronauts are
also taught it in case they need to deal with emergency
situations. The army also trains some troops in polyphasic
sleep.
The type of sleep felt by polyphasic sleepers is
mostly comprised of stage 5 REM. Thus the sooner stages of
sleep are largely bypassed allowing the user some more
hours of 'awake time' each 24 hours. This is a gradual
process though. At first the naps may not be largely NREM
which might explain the seven to ten day stage where
some polyphasic sleepers feel heavy, grumpy, spaced out and
can't concentrate.
The benefits of Polyphasic Sleep
Polyphasic sleep continues to be called the "sleep of genius"
Famous folk such as Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson,
Napoleon. and Winston Churchill used this schedule in
some form or another. Many who have trialled polyphasic
sleep have reported feeling extremely creative, although
this state might take some weeks to attain.
The obvious advantage of course is the additional time gained
in each twenty four hour period. Should you follow the classic
schedule, six naps of twenty five minutes each, you'd be
averaging only two and a half hours sleep!
Once you get used to sleeping by doing this, you can slip into
the sleep state within a few minutes, when compared with twenty
minutes or longer for monophasic sleep.
Writers, or anybody who needs creativity within their field,
find that sleeping by doing this enables them to become more creative.
This could be due to the occurrence of more alpha and theta
brainwaves, instead of beta, throughout their waking hours.
Disadvantages?
This type of sleep schedule isn't recommended long term although there happen to be some that have kept it up for six
months with no apparent harmful effects. There's been no long
term research completed to discover any negative effects on
health.
Although its been practiced through the centuries, it's not known whether depressing the other non REM stages of sleep - especially the stages 3 and 4 of deep sleep, could have a
negative impact on long-term emotional health.
Polyphasic sleep doesn't seem possible to integrate right into a normal
working day.
Oh! And another thing.
Anyone who has tried it have reported a rise in
appetite which might lead to putting on weight. You'd probably
need to spend some of this extra time doing more exercise!
Conclusion
If you're thinking about trying polyphasic sleep, try it
for a while on your next holidays. It won't inflict
damage short term, except possibly make you feel tired and grumpy!
Our recommendation is that participants review their eating
habits and make sure they're with an optimum diet with all of
the required food groups and perhaps a vitamin and mineral
supplement.
Also recommended is to possess a series of interesting
projects on hand to help keep the mind stimulated and also to prevent
accidental sleeping outside the schedule.
