Polyphasic Sleep

[Kintanon]

Is anyone else on Bullshido polyphasic? I've done it off and on for years and started back up a few weeks ago because I always feel so much better when I'm doing that instead of sleeping 8 hours at a time.
The way it works for anyone who doesn't know is that you sleep 20-40 minutes every 4 hours. I do 30 minutes at 7:30, 11:30, 3:30 am/pm. It takes about 2 weeks to get acclimated to it, after which you drop to sleep within 3-5 minutes and enter REM sleep almost immediately. You have vivid dreams and wake up completely refreshed after about 20 minutes.
The longest period I previously did it for was 8 months when I was a system admin for a company with offices in California, Athens, and London. Since I had to support all 3 time zones I was awake 24 hours a day for long stretches at a time. Going polyphasic was almost a necessity at that point. Since then I've done it whenever my work schedule allows me to.

Has anyone else tried it? Would anyone like to start a diatribe about how I'll hallucinate and die? I've known people who did it for 2-3 years at a time with no ill effects and I've never suffered any ill effects from it.

[hungryjoe]

Interesting that you'd bring this up at this time as I was thinking about a recent study.

I cannot remember where the study occured but it was on national television within the past couple of weeks.

Basically, the recommened minumum for long term was 7 hours. Less was found to reduce the amount of a specific hormone that helps prevent calcium buildup on the arterial walls. Hardening of the arteries so to speak.

I used to think that my usual 5-6 hours sleep was a good thing. This study gave question to that, particularly as I have hit middle age.

Anyone else that heard of this study have a link? A quick search only produced:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...1025075844.htm

http://www.sleep-problems-nomore.com...and_Sleep.html

[BaronVonDingDong]

Both Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher were polyphasic sleepers, I believe. My study therefore concludes that polyphasic sleep renders 50% of its subjects mad and evil, and the other 50% bald.

[TheRuss]

It takes about 2 weeks to get acclimated to it, after which you drop to sleep within 3-5 minutes and enter REM sleep almost immediately.

Evidence to support the claim of entering REM sleep "almost immediately", please?

[hungryjoe]

^^^^^

Exactly

[JingMerchant!]

I don't think Margaret Thatcher used polyphasic sleeping patterns. What she did was just try and get by on 2 hours a night.

Which explains a lot really....

[omoplatypus]

without having any of the OPs anecdotal evidence, i would have said this would bring on delirium after a week or so. but, this is a new idea to me, so, /subscribe

[mpark]

I've tried it twice. Lasted about a month both times. I don't think it really worked for me -- the first couple of weeks were OK, but after a month I was completely sleep-deprived -- but it was fun and I'll probably do it again, see if I can get it right next time.

[jspeedy]

I don't know about polyphasic sleep. But as for.......

Quote:Evidence to support the claim of entering REM sleep "almost immediately", please?

All I have is my own expierence, which dosen't exactly qualify as hard evidence for those who aren't me. But on many occasions i've fallen asleep in class, driving.,or any place where I can sit still for five or more minutes. Shortly after sitting still for a minute or so (jello neck syndrome) I'll fall asleep & I have the wierdest thoughts that turn into dreams then i'll be woken(i'm gonna say woken is a real word) up by whoever is around me and tell them about the crazy dream i just had. I'm sure somone out there has had something similiar to this happen to them.

[TheRuss]

Did you catch the emphasis on REM sleep in my question?

Aside: I know some people can drop quickly, but given that you're falling asleep at the wheel... that sounds kind of like narcolepsy.